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'...knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens...' (Jimi Hendix) |
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Mick Bates |
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Press Releases 2007 |
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| 2007 |
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Commenting on the Competition Commission’s report into the UK grocery market, Sustainable Supermarkets campaigner Mick Bates, AM for Montgomeryshire, said “I have no confidence whatsoever that the competition commission will be able to change the behaviour of the major supermarkets. I believe that consumer power is the only way we can force them to change their ways and give back more to the communities they seek to serve. “These giant businesses are so professional at what they do, it is almost impossible for the Competition Commission to catch them doing anything wrong. But supermarkets have to listen to their customers. Consumers need to insist on more local produce. “Local produce returns 45p of every £1 spent in store to the local community. For foreign goods, the figure is just 13p in the pound. That’s why I’ve been working to get supermarkets to tell us how much of our shopping has been locally sourced. And I want to see annual awards for the companies that sell the most local food, do most to promote recycling and waste reduction, and sell the most fair trade products. Awards would give customers a way of knowing if their local supermarket was rising to the challenge. “Supermarkets are popular with people because they are cheap and convenient. But they must do more to sustain high quality local food producers.”
Notes: Mick launched this campaign for sustainable supermarkets on Wednesday June 21 with his short debate – Supermarkets: Green Giants or incredible hulks? – in the Senedd Siambr. The campaign is built around promoting three central causes: Increasing local food sales; Promoting recycling and waste reduction; Selling the most fair trade products.
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