Investigating the retail trade in my town

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Siân Hughes 10JA

Investigating the retail trade in Malmesbury

This essay is about the retail trade in and around Malmesbury; specifically the supermarket industry. I have decided to choose Somerfield (Malmesbury) and Waitrose (Cirencester) as my two supermarket choices. I have chosen Somerfield because it is the local supermarket were I live; although not massive, it holds all you would need for a weeks shop. I have chosen Waitrose because, although it is a 20 minute car journey, it has very high quality of food and came up very high in a survey I did of where people shop; my own family like to shop there as well.

Somerfield Assessment:

Fair-trade Policies: Since joining the co-op Somerfield has more fair-trade products than ever. Banana’s, tea, coffee, chocolate, milk, cheese, vegetables, the list goes on and on. There are also more own brand produce that use fair-trade ingredients.

Environmental policies: Lights on timers through out store (except security lights). Movement censer lights in staff canteens, toilets and offices. Recycling independently cardboard, plastics (high and low density), paper, cans, ect.

Car parking: 54 normal spaces, 3 parent and child spaces and 5 disabled spaces. The parent and child and disabled spaces are all located to the front of the store. So as they are easier to access; 1 ½ hours free parking for customers.

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Layout: Good basic layout for store; 8 isles. Skin care, cleaning products and pet food isle is located to the back of the store. Not a big store; however holds everything most people within Malmesbury need.

Location: Centred near town centre of Malmesbury. If looking for the best value and a wider range they would have to travel further away from Malmesbury.

Customer service: helpful and pleasant staff; I was told about a blind lady who is helped around the store every week. The woman who showed me around the store and pointing out things like fair-trade products and recyclable produce was ...

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