Mearns store could deliver nearly 300 jobs

[Mellijelli]

Another supermarket to be erected in Aberdeen, Stonehaven this time, the 300 jobs (http://www.careersandjobsuk.com/) that will be created sounds good but apparently the Stonehaven Community Council has objected to the bid, claiming it would have a “serious detrimental impact” on retailers in the town centre. The supermarket is going to include a petrol station as well.

The application for land at East Newtonleys, to the south of the town, will be taken to members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee by tomorrow.

A report to councilors by Aberdeenshire planner Alyson James says: “The adverse impact on the existing trade is a concern, but it is also clear that Stonehaven has strengths and advantages in the existing nature of the town centre.”

Wonder if they will approve this one? seems Savills came up with some impressive plans for the Carlisle re-development, which has now been accepted, not sure who the agent for this supermarket is though.

Can read the whole story here: The Press and Journal (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1706863?UserKey=)

[m8internet]

Unusual this, as Stonehaven does not have a large Supermarket (at the moment)
There is a small Supermarket, and I have used it a few times, but it is VERY basic

As a result the majority of residents do their shopping in Portlethen (where there is a large ASDA with petrol station) or Aberdeen

The plan is being put forward by Bancon, which suggests it is a Sainsburys

[Dark Phoenyx]

:D m8internet, would that be so bad tho? I think its a brilliant idea to be honest. It keeps things in the town, and will make jobs available for the townsfolk.

[Mellijelli]

Ok so i probably as the norm is have this a bit wrong but if people usually go out to Portlethen for their shopping instead of the smaller existing supermarket then maybe they would be glad for a more versatile store opening then??

They could just be worried that the smaller places like the supermarket will now completely loose business due to the bigger much improved "Sainsbury's" store they want to open being there.

In my experience i like to stick to my usual little stores for nightly shopping and then if i want to find something i cant in those, then only do i go to the bigger shopping malls, so im sure it will even business out either way :)

[m8internet]

Stonehaven used to have a NORCO store, until the group collapsed in the mid 1990s
Safeway had a small store at the same time but it noticed no change in customer numbers, which were already declining, and this has since become a Sommerfield
However, the town centre has a vibrant collection of local traders (as is quite typical for most towns in the North of Scotland)
Equally, when you look at most such small towns they have just one supermarket

I would suspect the majority of people travel to Aberdeen for their shopping, rather than Portlethen (only using Portlethen if they only intend visiting ASDA, as there isn't anything else there - the town centre is even smaller than Stonehaven!)

Shopping in the Aberdeen area has always been an issue
The main four have placed all their main (large) supermarkets within the "city" area, ASDA having the most (excluding Portlethen), all the rest have just one each
Once you get outside the "city" area then the more traditional supermarket applies; one single small supermarket
Tesco acquired Wm Low many years so any competition there was has gone now, as many towns lost either the Tesco or Sommerfield, again leaving them with just one supermarket

Another example is Laurencekirk (and I could list several other towns between Stonehaven and Arbroath / Forfar)
Residents here have even further to travel to visit a large supermarket, not only that but the town doesn't even have a large chain small supermarket!
Hence the new supermarket in Stonehaven will attract people from there, and I believe this is what they are aiming at

[Mellijelli]

True the more rural little towns dont really have much variety of shops to choose from in my experience, we have many little towns, we call them "one horse towns" about that have one little shop where everyone goes to get their shopping done, if you want anything other than they have you have to travel to one of the bigger towns or cities to get what you need.

I would not mind staying in a quiet little town myself, but i think its quite a mission when it comes to doing shopping and it would probably have to be done in bulk on a monthly basis and then just use the local little stores for the daily stuff like bread, milk and the rest.

[m8internet]

I agree, living in such a small town has its advantages
The businesses are owned by local people, run by local people
Typically the number of "large companies" are in the minority (unlike a city where it is round the other way)

However, this comes at a cost
Local shops tend be more expensive
Partly as they cannot take advantage of discounts available on bulk orders
Then there are the typically higher business running costs
If there is a "large company" they see this as an opportunity to price stock at a premium rate
As an example Safeway were well known for this, once we compared prices on six items and found a difference of nearly 20% between a city store and a rural one (the city one was cheaper)
Safeway senior management argued that the cheaper prices were as a result of having the petrol station which in turn encouraged more customers, however I think that was a flawed argument!

[Mellijelli]

They definitely do charge more on everything in the small town stores, I think they also know that theirs is the only shop around so they can charge what they like knowing people dont really have a choice but to buy by them, unless they go into the bigger towns.

I supposed they also have to make their money, doubt anyone does monthly grocery shopping by the smaller stores :)

[Dark Phoenyx]

I do daily shopping at my local spar. Its not too bad really. I still get all i need for supper, and still get to get a few extras... and we eat relatively well as well, i mean balti butter chicken, soft pot roasted rump or sirloin. so its not like we have to bargain hunt for supper.

[Mellijelli]

Spar is a worldwide franchise, well they are in most countries, they are given mark ups (selling price on cost) guidelines by the Spar group on all their stuff, they sell their stock on these recommendations, whether they choose to stay within the recommendations or not are up to them, iv seen that some dont go too overboard but there are the odd few that just try and rip you off.

I used to do all my shopping at Spar at a time and their prices are quite reasonable actually, a nice thing is every Wednesday or Thursday they throw out their weekly specials and they do the same when its end of month.

[m8internet]

Some franchises are quite relaxed (like the Spar one appears to be), others are very restrictive (McDonalds)

Equally, if the terms change sometimes you can change between brands (Spar to Happy Shopper), however sometimes you can't (McDonalds)

I deal with both types, and I have noticed that many that used to be relaxed are changing and becoming quite restrictive
One of the companies I work with has a M&S franchise, some of the terms are very restrictive, yet others are very relaxed (and some are non-existent!)
However the three year contract was renewed recently and is definitely an improvement on the previous contract