Grocery inquiry findings criticised

Small business groups have blasted the findings of the Competition Commission into the health of the grocery sector.

Despite a committee of MPs estimating that 2,000 small shops go out of business each year, the inquiry failed to come up with any remedies that would boost independent retailers suffering at the hands of the big supermarkets.

"The remit of this inquiry was far too narrow," said Clive Davenport, trade and industry chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses. "Supermarkets are forcing small shops out of business in many areas of retailing, not just groceries.

"Important issues such as the travesty of almost limitless free parking at out of town superstores while independent high street shops face ever-more stringent parking restrictions were not even considered."

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) also criticised the Commission. "Evidence that the number of independent shops in our villages, towns and cities has declined in recent years is there for everyone to see. Any report that states otherwise is ignoring a widespread and worrying trend," said the FPB's chief executive Phil Orford.