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I have commented on this subject before and I am sure you will all agree that consolidation in the symbol sector is inevitable as the market positioning by the mults will accelerate in the coming year as the Convenience is where the market is going. As it stands the symbol’s overall market share will continue to decline as a consequence unless, they join forces to get the volume and consequently reduce their cost base. An average of 2000 members of mix ability and standard per symbol is not exactly going to give any of them the margin required to compete with the mults. The others claiming higher membership are simply hiding behind their cash & carry operation and are giving a misleading impression of their true worth. We all have a future if the symbols start to cohabitate and start thinking strategically and start planning the inevitable? I strongly believe that Cost Cutter & NISA with their history would work better in the interest of the greater good and the symbol sector. We in the symbol sector are beginning to look like “minnows” mudslinging at each other rather than thinking ahead. We all know “shot gun marriages” don’t work!! Start planning now or at least, reduce some of the cost base by sharing own label & IT development costs.
Arjan Mehr Londis Bracknell