Public Servant Lifestyle

Independent local shops and street markets have the potential to be the UK's greenest grocers, despite intensive PR from supermarkets highlighting their environmental credentials, delegates at a Friends of the Earth (FoE) sustainable food event held in London as part of environmental pressure group's `Shop Local First' campaign.

This campaign aims to encourage shoppers to switch their shopping away from big supermarkets to local outlets. Delegates, including representatives from retailers, wholesalers and environmental groups, will hear from a range of speakers including food writer Joanna Blythman, and about ground breaking initiatives to stock local shops with local produce.

Research carried out by a team at Sheffield Hallam University has shown that big supermarkets emit on average three times as much carbon dioxide per square foot than an average greengrocer. Meanwhile a separate study carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) found that a higher proportion of packaging at street markets was recyclable than in the big supermarkets.

Wednesday's event follows the recent Competition Commission report on supermarkets which, says Friends of the Earth, failed to grasp the value of local shops. The environmental campaign group is concerned that if the Government follows the Commission's recommendations planning rules will be altered to allow even more big supermarkets at the expense of smaller independent shops and markets.

Friends of the Earth's food campaigner, Sandra Bell said: "The big supermarkets may have grabbed the headlines with their promises to be green grocers, but local shops and market stalls are already ahead of them on issues like packaging and reducing car-use. Local shops have huge potential to offer genuinely local food, but they need more support from the Competition Commission, and from local and national government".

Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive James Lowman said: "The greenest thing about local shops of all kinds is that far more people walk to them than any other form of shopping. Independent retailers all over the country are taking on the challenge of reducing their impact on the environment and one real opportunity is local sourcing. Local sourcing brings the added benefit of giving independents a real point of distinction from the big supermarkets. But the sector won't be able to fulfill its potential unless the Government and Competition Commission act to create a level playing field in the grocery market and allow independent shops to thrive".

Jonathon Bayne, Musgrave Retail Partners GB, said: "At Musgrave Retail Partners GB, we are committed to supporting local producers and their excellent products. We are an ardent supporter of the British food and farming industry, and have for a number of years worked closely with regional food groups to introduce locally produced food within their regions into independently owned stores."

Friends of the Earth says that local shops have huge potential to lead the way on local sourcing because they have greater flexibility to deal with local suppliers and are not tied into central distribution systems.

But with two new supermarkets opening every week and 2,000 local shops closing a year it is clear that independent shops will need support to realise their green potential. Today's event will help to identify action needed at the local, regional and national level to ensure that potential can be reached.

More information available in In Your Kitchen, Supermarkets