Double standards on competition; yourLETTERS.

I AGREE entirely with the editorial (DP October 22) concerning the news that the Office of Fair Trading has ruled that the Co-op must sell off Somerfield or Co-op stores in five locations in North Wales.

The Co-op has operated in a great many smaller communities to the benefit of both local customers and suppliers for much longer than the large supermarkets have been in existence and none of the branches involved can be described as a "superstores".

I am interested to know, in the light of this ruling, how it is that the OFT allow six (yes six) Tesco stores to operate in the area of Bicester in Oxfordshire.

These comprise one Tesco supermarket, four Tesco "Express" and one Tesco "Metro".

I have no idea what type of store the latter two denote but presumably they are fairly small shops. The principle remains, however, that Tesco has a virtual monopoly in that area, no doubt to the detriment of both competition and local suppliers.

It does appear that the OFT is operating on two levels and does not have the power or the will to stand up to the giants of the industry, whilst hitting only at a level where they think they will not be opposed by all the huge legal clout that these organisations employ. .limit words. give your and Letters and are editor's P H Hunter Colwyn Bay 

CAPTION(S):

Tesco stores in many guises are seemingly springing up everywhere, while in North Wales the Co-up is being forced to sell some stores where it has two after it bought the Somerfield chain