Another shop lost!

Last month Nantwich lost another butcher. Since I've lived in the town we've lost three. Once there used to be 23 butchers in Nantwich, now there's just two left (plus a pork butcher and one in the market).

The notice in the window says it all:

"It is with great regret I have to inform you that in line with many small businesses and due to the current climate A H Broomhall & Son having strived to continue to offer our customers a service which is of both good quality and value whilst still retaining a professional and friendly manner, have found that such is the competition from wholesalers selling direct and supermarket price wars, a small business such as ours cannot remain viable under these circumstances."

When we first moved to Nantwich there was a garage on Welsh Row, another on London Road and one where the vets now are, all selling petrol (and one was open 24 hours a day). We were delighted when a supermarket started selling petrol, as petrol got cheaper. When a second supermarket started selling petrol it seemed even better, - as there was a price war! As a result all these garages have now closed down and the cheap petrol and 24 hour service have gone.

I see that Asda are now joining Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer in opening smaller shops in town centres.... I was recently in Birkenhead and counted about 9 shops in a row all closed down (ironically with locals selling on the pavements outside the shops!).

Sainsbury's in Nantwich has already substantially increased its size and is now planning to build an even bigger store, telling the council and the local paper it will be a jobs boost for the town.

I wonder what the employees of Broomhall's think about that?