The Federation of Wholesale Distributors is urging the Office of Fair Trading to block a move by Sainsbury's to buy 171 Somerfield stores. The FWD say that once Sainsbury get their hands on part of the estate it will be very easy for them to take over the total, thus causing more local independent losses.
Alan Toft, director general of the FWD said, "Wholesalers have a united front in urging the government to stamp down on any further erosion of the local store sector by superstore raiding parties."
Toft made reference to the OFT's decision to allow Tesco to takeover T&S Stores in December saying, "The OFT should not repeat its mistake of treating local stores separately from the total market".
