Don't abandon local retailers

Dear Sir,

While appreciating Asda's efforts to invest in their community, described by Natalie Cullington, their media relations officer on p43 of last week's Chronicle, I would like to remind your readers that it is still a supermarket.

As such, it operates in a competitive retail environment answerable to its shareholders.

Like other supermarkets, it squeezes manufacturers, such as farmers', margins, takes full advantage of its vast customer base and pays scant regard to fair trade, organic production and animal rights.

It also reduces the net number of staff in retail by closing local retail outlets and thus contributes to the decline of our high streets.

I urge readers to use local, independent retail outlets whenever possible and thus benefit from their specialist knowledge and ability to respond to customers' specific requests.

Shopping is a social as well as a commercial activity and I would prefer a chat in my local butcher to waiting in an aisle to compete my purchase.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Peter Hirst

Middlewich