“In other words, Nectar points can be collected and redeemed in many more places than clubcard points, which can only be collected and redeemed in a substandard supermarket with substandard petrol, thereby proving that Nectar > clubcard, FACT!”

“Ah but the Nectar card isn't just a single in-store loyalty card like Tesco's card. The Nectar loyalty card is a loyalty card scheme in the United Kingdom issued by a partnership of suppliers including the supermarket chain Sainsbury's, the credit card American Express and the petrol distributors BP. FACT, yes thats right its a FACT so therefore Clubcard > Nectar!!”

“Ah but the Nectar card isn't just a single in-store loyalty card like Tesco's card. The Nectar loyalty card is a loyalty card scheme in the United Kingdom issued by a partnership of suppliers including the supermarket chain Sainsbury's, the credit card American Express and the petrol distributors BP. FACT, yes thats right its a FACT so therefore Clubcard > Nectar!!”

“Nectar > Tesco clubcard, FACT.”

“Tesco are successfull becuase they give the customer what they want and have worked hard in a free market to get where they are. They started themselves with a single shop ( a market stall actually) and got to where they are today through their own hard work and efforts.

If people didn't like what Tesco offer they wouldn't use their stores, as simple as that. I have had no problem with their customer service and find the staff on the whole friendly and helpful.

The clubcard scheme is the only rewards scheme, apart from Airmiles perhaps, that has been successfull and does actually give decent returns on the points collected. How did they manage to get that right, when so many other big retailers have got it hopelessely wrong?

On a self-catering holiday recently I attempted to shop in a small local store, wanting to help the local economy etc, but I could not find a single thing I wanted to eat as their shelves were full of convenience foods, crisp, sweets and the freezers full of poor quality ready meals at very high prices, so you guessed it, I found a Tesco's where I was quite able to stock up for the week with everything I needed.

To Ian,who wrote this article I do sympathise with your situation and I am sure you have worked extremely hard to build up your business, but In a free market, the general public call the shots and i'm afraid in this case they are calling overwhelmingly for Tesco's. Hopefully your loyal customers will continue to shop at your store so your business will remain unaffected.”

“Tesco are doing so well because we all shop there. The reason we do this is that they offer the goods that we want at the prices we like. It is no good us blaming them for the sccess of their business mdel. If they are so evil why do we contine to shop there.

As far as development is concerned how is it that private businesses drive development, with apparently new housing being built in response to the new superstore appearing in the area. Is this true and where is the council in all this?

We do need new housing and Lincolnshire is a great place to absorb population growth, as long as all the infrastructure that goes with this is put in place, including shops, schools, sewage, water supply, electricity supply and most important ROADS. This brings in new businesses and generally increased economic activity, which in turn creates the income for larger scale improvements.

Maybe you are right, invite Sir Terry Leahy to advise the county on how to grow successflly.”

“I do feel for you Ian but I think you will be ok. You run a friendly store on the doorstep of your customer base. I can't think of another store in your area that isn't rude or at least ambivalent to its customers so they SHOULD be worried.
Let¿s be honest though, Bracebridge could do with a retail and housing development lift. It's not a quiet suburb it's a tired forgotten corner of the city that needs investment. The new play facilities are great (thank you city council) but more needs to be done to raise the standard of the environment in which the residents live. If Tesco causes (all be it by accident) this to happen then great.”

“"Just think, you could wake up in the Bracebridge Tesco Express after a boozy night ¿ probably a Tesco cheap booze deal ¿ and you might not know where you were."

You won't last long in Tesco if you're unconscious with the drink. They only permit conscious drunks in their stores.”

“Very wise words anon, but you're wasting your time I'm afraid. Every time a story or letter like this is printed the same responses are rolled out i.e. "this shouldn't be allowed", "Tesco is taking over and forcing out small retailers" etc. etc. If enough people feel the same and avoid Tesco then it will fail. If enough support the small retailers then those retailers will thrive. Unfortunately some people aren't able to grasp the concept of a free market.”

“It's called competition and it will always exist within a free market system. You want to stop Tesco capitalising upon the market you're going to have to put the same limit on every other supermarket and shop in the country. Fair enough if they break anti-competitive regulations or engage in immoral contract negotiations but to tell them that they can't expand because they are stealing market share is pretty ludicrous. If a business has enough people that wish to use it it will not fail so basically you believe that despite a business not serving the market as effectively as a competitor the market served by the more competitive store and thus the one which better serves the needs of the majority should be prevented from serving those people and these peoples right to choice should be removed? Please recognise that if people really want the small convenience store service all they have to do is use it enough and the store stays open because enough people want it there, that's how business works in real life and conveniently how Tesco expanded from a small independent store way back. Are you proposing that people who would rather use a tesco store should be prevented from doing so because people who want to use an independant convenient store fear that their store might close down because not enough people want to use it?”