|
For more background information on UK supermarkets please see the following reports: Cornered Shops: London's small shops and the planning system
London Assembly, 27th July 2010
Cornered Shops highlights the importance of local shops to communities across the Capital and recommends changes to policies to give councils more ways to protect local shops from big retail developments.
A Bitter Cup
War on Want, July 2010
This report focuses on tea workers in Kenya and India, and shows that although the tea industry is booming and supermarkets are cashing in, workers are harassed, poorly paid and denied trade union rights on tea plantations and in tea packing factories. Supermarkets have invariably failed to use their influence to improve this situation. For more information on the report please see the War on Want website.
Asda: Poverty Guaranteed
ActionAid, July 2010
This new report from ActionAid reveals Asda's lamentable record on paying poverty-level wages to workers in poor countries who make its clothes and is trailing behind its competitors such as M&S and Primark. An internal Asda survey, obtained by ActionAid, shows that even in Bangladesh where Asda is trying to improve wages, employees in its factories are earning just a quarter of the amount they need to properly feed, clothe and educate their families. A Review of Recommendations and Remedies to Address Supermarket Buyer Power in the EU
Professor Roger Clarke, June 2010
This report was commissioned by Agribusiness Action Initiatives (AAI) Europe and report author, Professor Roger Clarke, reviews existing Member State legislation and goes on to recommend that DG Competition undertake a sector inquiry into the grocery market and that a new EU-wide supermarket Code of Practice be implemented with an independent enforcer at Member State level, to make relationships between retailers and their suppliers fairer. Retail Policy and Local Development Frameworks
Friends of the Earth, May 2010
Across the country, local councils are drawing up and revising their Local Development Frameworks (LDFs), planning documents which will shape the way communities develop over years to come. Different councils are at varying stages but you can still influence their development as they are required to be reviewed every year and revised every three years. LDFs have the potential to play a vital role in promoting vibrant, diversified and localised retail development. So if you are interested in supporting your neighbourhood and making sure your council makes the right decisions, read this report!
Tesco's finest tea - produced in far from finest conditions?
IUF, July 2009
In June 2009, an experienced team of IUF researchers investigated living and working conditions on the large Talup plantation in Assam, India which IUF understands to supply tea for Tesco's Finest blends. The plantation management clearly failed to apply even the minimum requirements of the Indian Plantation Labour Act of 1951. Read more here. Sour Grapes -South African wine workers and British Supermarket Power
War on Want, February 2009
This report is based on reseach by the International Institute for Environment and Development for War on Want and its South African partner, the trade union Sikhula Sonke. It examines the changing forces that impact on the global wine industry and highlights the crucial role that British supermarkets play.
Cashing In - giant retailers, purchasing practices and working conditions in the garment industry
Clean Clothes Campaign, February 2009
The “Cashing In” report focuses on five top global retailers: Carrefour, Walmart, Tesco, Aldi, and Lidl, highlighting poor working conditions where these discounters produce their clothes and taking the companies to task for failing to take sufficient action to address these problems. Fashion Victims II: How UK clothing retailers are keeping workers in poverty
War on Want, December 2008
This report comes two years on from War on Want’s original Fashion Victims report, published in December 2006, which found that garment workers struggle to survive on extremely low pay, suffering poor working conditions, arduous hours and a complete lack of trade union representation in the factories. Two years on, this new report shows workers making clothes for Primark, Tesco and Asda are still being exploited, despite promises from companies to improve the lives of their workers. The Two Faces of Tesco
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, June 2008
This report by the US union UFCW compares how Tesco operates at home in the United Kingdom and how it does business in the U.S. Rebalancing power: buyer power, commodities and competition policy
Traidcraft and the South Centre, April 2008
This report considers to what extent competition policy can be used as a tool to tackle the effects of buyer power and corporate concentration on vulnerable commodity producers. The report includes analysis of the problems faced by commodity producers, different approaches to competition policy and examples of good practice and finally recommendations and conclusions.
"Shopping for a Market"
Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, August 2007
The US Urban and Environmental Policy Institute's report, Shopping for a Market, examines Tesco's entrance into the United States. It compares the company's promises to its track record in the U.K. and other countries where it does business. "Shopping the Bullies"
Friends of the Earth, April 2007
This new report examines tactics used by supermarkets to manipulate the planning system and includes a survey of local planning authorities on the implications of the Government’s proposed removal of the ‘need test’. "Who Pays? How British supermarkets are keeping women workers in poverty"
Action Aid, April 2007
'Who pays?' explores the supply chains that link the products we see on supermarket shelves to the people in developing countries who produce them. The report looks in detail at the cases of some of the poorest workers in supermarket supply chains in Costa Rica, India and Bangladesh and shows how supermarket pressure means that they are being denied even their most basic rights. Supersized Supermarkets podcast
The podcast from the 'Supersized supermarkets' public forum, hosted by Tescopoly, ActionAid, Friends of the Earth and War on Want on 28th February 2007. The podcast includes speakers Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Miyera Rodriguez, a Costa Rican banana workers union representative, and others. Fashion victims
War on Want, December 2006
This report reveals the true cost of cheap clothes at Tesco, Asda and Primark, based on research among employees at six Bangladeshi factories in the capital Dhaka which employ over 5,000 workers, mainly women, making clothes for the three bargain retailers Farmer survey 2006
Friends of the Earth, December 2006
Friends of the Earth surveyed 100 farmers and found out that they are being squeezed by the supermarkets, and barely receive the cost of production for their produce. Sweet, healthy and juicy... so why are pineapples leaving a bitter taste?
Observer Food Monthly, November 2006
Joanna Blythman's article for the Observer Food Monthly magazine reports on the costs of Costa Rica's pineapple harvest on workers' health. Concentration distorts global food markets
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, September 2006
The growing market power of international food companies is adversely affecting the lives of farmers and consumers worldwide, according to a new paper by IATP's Sophia Murphy. Greening supermarkets
National Consumer Council, September 2006
The report rates the top 8 supermarkets on how well they are performing at helping consumers make greener shopping choices. It welcomes positive initiatives by some chains on local sourcing and green energy, but no supermarkets scored well on all the report's indicators and the conclusion is that there is a lot more to be done, and in particular that there is a low level of engagement with customers on green issues. The case for breaking up Wal-Mart
Barry C Lynn, Harper's Magazine, July 2006
Wal-Mart's massive growth has begun to disrupt America's entire retail economy, forcing companies large and small to adapt to its ruthless practices if they want to do business. Is it time to bring in the government to break up the mega chain? Biofuels, horsepower and hectares
The Land, summer 2006
This article looks at the investment being made by large corporations in biofuels, including a major shareholding taken by Tesco in a biofuels company constructing a biodiesel production plant at Immingham. The Real Choice
Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and The Plunkett Foundation, June 2006
The report examines the choice between more superstores, or more local food, shops and jobs linking people with the places and landscapes in which they live. The report is based on surveys by Caroline Cranbrook over eight years in East Suffolk, where local foods are flourishing since a superstore plan was turned down. The Tesco Takeover
Friends of the Earth, June 2006
This report sets out the price paid for Tesco's success by farmers, workers, town centres and the environment. The World on a plate: Queens Market. The economic and social value of London's most ethnically diverse street market
New Economics Foundation, May 2006
Research shows that street markets offer better choice on fresh fruit and vegetables than supermarkets at half the price, generate substantial benefits for the local economy and create twice as many jobs per square metre of retail than supermarkets. The report represents a microcosm of the dangers of basing regeneration policy on supermarket expansion. The Grocery Market: The OFT's reasons for making a reference to the Competition Commission
Office of Fair Trading, May 2006
This report presents the evidence from the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into the grocery market, on which it based its May 2006 decision to refer the market for a full investigation by the Competition Commission. The food industry, diet, physical activity and health: a review of reported commitments and practice of 25 of the world's largest food companies
Tim Lang, Geof Rayner and Elizabeth Kaelin, Centre for Food Policy City University, April 2006
This study analyses and compares the public announcements on health policies and practices of the top food companies, including Tesco and Wal-Mart among the ten food retailers. High Street Britain: 2015
House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group, January 2006
The report, analysing evidence collected during the group's inquiry into the prospects of the small retail sector, reflected the belief that due to the unbalanced trading environment many small shops will have ceased trading by 2015, with people, as consumers and members of communities, standing to be severely disadvantaged. Calling the shots: how supermarkets get their way in planning decisions
Friends of the Earth, January 2006
This briefing looks at some of the strong-arm tactics used by supermarkets in their attempts to gain planning permission such as supermarkets pressurising councillors, stores constructed beyond planning permission boundaries, supermarket chains hording land banks, and councillors and planners finding it increasingly difficult to voice their concerns or refuse applications from supermarkets because of their overweening power. WalMart
UNI Commerce Global Union report, December 2005
Details of the company's operations around the world.
Stopping the one-stop: can we differentiate between the supermarkets or are they all as bad as each other?
Ethical Consumer, November/December 2005
Trading Places: the local economic impact of street produce and farmers markets
New Economics Foundation, November 2005
The study examines the contribution made by London's street markets and farmers markets to local economies, local communities, and London as a whole. The study focuses on markets' roles in providing jobs, generating wealth and increasing access to nutritious food. Healthy competition: how supermarkets can affect your chances of a healthy diet
Sue Dibb, National Consumer Council, November 2005
The results of the National Consumer Council's follow up survey of how the top supermarket chains have performed, and improved, on health and nutrition. The survey shows some supermarkets making improvements, but that there are also a lot of gaps in their offer of healthy food, labelling, instore promotions, and customer information. ASDA Wal-Mart: The Alternative Report
War on Want/ GMB, September 2005
This report looks at Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer. It has built its global empire of supermarkets on an image of 'always low prices' which has taken a toll on its employees Research into the use and treatment of temporary workers
DEFRA, August 2005
A series of reports by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has suggested that cost pressure from large retailers are fuelling the rise in illegal migrant farm labour, by forcing suppliers to look for cheaper sources of labour. Read an article in The Guardian about the DEFRA reports or see the DEFRA reports on:
- A study of Employment Practices in the Agriculture and Horticulture Industry and Co-located Packhouse and Primary Food Processing Sector
- The Business Processes Applicable to all Parties Using and Supplying Temporary Labour Covered by the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004
- Secondary Processing in Food Manufacture and the Use of Gang Labour The 'Big Food' takeover of British agriculture
Spin-Watch, August 2005
The Tesco Takeover: Tesco's response to our report
Friends of the Earth July 2005
Friends of the Earth's report on Tesco's response to its The Tesco Takeover report from June 2005. Also read replies written by Tescopoly alliance members to responses to email actions on the Tescopoly website by the Department for Trade and Industry and Tesco. Off the peg: Tesco and the clothing industry in Asia
Josh Gilbert, Corporate Watch, June 2005
Looks at Tesco's sourcing practices for its expanding clothes sector, and the impacts on global supply chains. Shopped: The shocking power of British supermarkets
Joana Blythman, February 2005
An essential and updated introduction to the growth in the power of the British supermarkets, with Joanna Blythman considering the impact of the corporate concentration on the High Street, diets, farms, the environment and more. Power hungry: six reasons to regulate global food corporations
Action Aid, January 2005
Global food companies have grown too powerful and are undermining the giht against poverty in developing countries. They are draining wealth from rural communities, marginalising small-scale farming, and infringing on peoples' rights. ASDA/Wal-Mart: a corporate profile
Corporate Watch, November 2004
A profile of Asda and owners Wal-Mart, the largest company and arguably 'the most ruthless employer' in the world Race to the top - evaluation report
International Institute for Environment and Development, November 2004
How are supermarkets performing in their promotion of a greener and fairer food system? Are they sourcing food from wherever it can be produced at the lowest cost with the lowest ethical, environmental, animal welfare and labour standards? Or are they competing on social, environmental and ethical performance - a 'race to the top'? Every little helps: TESCO
The Ecologist, September 2004
An article about Tesco's growing investment in RFID technology The Rough Guide to the UK Farming Crisis
Corporate Watch, May 2004
This report argues that the farm income crisis and the environmental failings of farming are due to the same causes - the globalisation and trade liberalisation of the trade in food and the concentration of market power in the hands of a small number of multinational food corporations. What's Wrong with Supermarkets
Corporate Watch, April 2004
An updated edition of the fully referenced 40 page A5 booklet, which critically analyses the way in which UK
supermarkets shape the production and consumption of food. Also available is a four page briefing based on the same research material which provides a short analysis of the so called 'choice, convenience and value' offered by supermarkets. Please contact Corporate Watch for free copies Everyday low prices: The hidden price we all pay for Wal-Mart
Committee on education and the workforce, U.S. House of Representatives, February 2004
This report looks at the causes of Wal-Mart's success in its ability to charge low prices in mega-stores, bringing some community benefits, but also at a steep price for America workers, US labour laws and community living standards. The Rise of Supermarkets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Thomas Reardon, C. Peter Timmer, Christopher B. Barrett, Julio Berdegue, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 85 (5), December 2003
This report looks at the rise of supermarkets in these regions in the past decade, where they are now no longer just niche players for rich consumers in the capital cities. This has transformed agri-food markets, at different rates and depths across regions and countries. Many of those transformations present great challenges - even exclusion - for small farms, processing and distribution firms, as well as benefits. Food Inc. Corporate Concentration from farm to consumer
UKFG, October 2003
This report details the impact of buyer power on the food chain, notably detailing its impact on farmers and farm workers, both in the North and the South. It examines the impact of the growing concentration of those companies who trade, process, manufacture and sell agricultural goods and the impact on a range of commodities. The report also points to policies that can ensure more equitable trading relationships and provides options for re-balancing the markets. The new landless labourers
Felicity Lawrence, The Guardian, May 2003
This article looks at the way our food has become depedent on hidden army of illegal workers, both British and foreign. Food Webs
Caroline Cranbrook, May 2002
A report for CPRE by Caroline Cranbrook on local food networks in East Suffolk, which demonstrates the importance of local shops and services to rural communities. It reveals the complex web of interconnection between local producers and farmers and local shops.
|
