±±¾©Èü³µpk10ing groups tackle Tesco about high-street takeover

LONDON – A website slating Tesco for its 'Every Little Helps' strapline has been launched by Friends of the Earth and other groups, accusing the supermarket giant of putting many UK farmers and local shops out of business with its growing market power.

As Tesco prepares to meet with shareholders today for its annual general meeting, Friends of the Earth, the Small & Family Farms Alliance and eight other UK groups, unveiled the website, which replaces Tesco's "Every Little Helps" tagline with "Every Little Hurts".

The site uses identical fonts and colours to Tesco's with the words: "This is not Tesco... so get your groceries somewhere else. Support local business."

Tesco controls nearly one third of the UK grocery market, with almost £1 in every £3 spent on groceries spent at Tesco, according to TNS.

Friends of the Earth claims that Tesco's growing market share is bad for UK business, bad for consumers and bad for the environment.

Tesco spent £3.7m on energy-saving schemes in the last year, but according to Friends of the Earth, failed to meet its commitment to cut emissions by 4.2% and consumes nearly twice as much energy as the national average.

At a Friends of the Earth briefing yesterday, Liberal Democrat Andrew George MP said supermarkets are behaving "completely rationally" in using their muscle in the market place.

"It's whether they are inappropriately using their power in the supply chain. In my opinion, the evidence shows we are well beyond the time by which some legislation is in fact required," he said.

Tesco, which in 2005 announced over £2bn in profits, is accused of not living up to its commitment to fair trade and corporate responsibility as stated on its .

The supermarket giant has responded by saying that there is plenty of choice for customers and that more than 90% of the population are within a short drive of at least three different stores.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "The supermarket industry is fiercely competitive as the last three competition inquiries have found. We fight for customers every day. Tesco has only grown because more customers have chosen to shop with us and they will only continue to do that if we do a good job for them."

The group added that much of its recent success is down to new businesses such as international, new non-food ranges, and Tesco Personal Finance.

The Tescopoly campaign is calling for Tesco to create a code of practice to ensure that all suppliers are treated fairly, an independent watchdog to ensure the grocery market is operating in the interest of consumers, farmers and small retailers and a block on any new takeovers by Tesco or other major supermarkets.

Vicki Herd, Friends of the Earth campaigner, said: "Tesco is lauded as a British success story but the image is a deceptive one and it is beginning to tarnish. We want shareholders to realise that farmers and consumers are paying the price of their profits."

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