Sainsbury is mounting a charm offensive while it redraws plans to open a shop at 28 Howe Street.
As reported in Breaking news (15.9.11; 28.9.11), the supermarket giant was initially rebuffed by City of Edinburgh Council Planners unimpressed by the proposed treatment of a listed building in the Edinburgh World Heritage site.
However, perhaps shocked by the sudden and widespread reaction to its retail proposals, Sainsbury's London-based Jim Bishop (Head of Convenience Property Acquisitions – Scotland) has recently written to local households in a bid to set minds at rest.
The chain is delighted, he says, at the success of its recently opened shop in Stockbridge, which he believes 'enhances and complements the shopping offer of the vibrant parade of shops in what is widely acknowledged as one of Edinburgh's most successful local shopping areas'.
However, the company's own analysis suggests that the branch has a fairly narrow catchment area which does not include Howe Street. It is this discrete market which Sainsbury wishes to capture. (Well, there's a surprise: they don't want anyone spending money with anybody else.)
He goes on to deny any influence in the relocation of the furniture shop which has occupied the Howe Street premises up until now.
Mr Bishop is of the firm conviction that having 'further high quality convenience shopping' in Stockbridge and the New Town will 'make a positive contribution to making them even better'.
Not everybody is so sure. John MacDonald – a local resident in the immediate vicinity – contacted Spurtle yesterday to say: 'This is where I and many others fail to agree with Sainsbury's. There is only so much milk, bread, ready meals and bottles of wine/cider one can buy. The only contribution they will make is the eventual demise of smaller nearby stores that do not have the financial muscle to survive.
'In fact the "dilution" effect will have ripples beyond the immediate area. I would bet that the two recently opened specialist wine shops in North West Circus Place will also find it hard to compete sandwiched between Sainsbury stores in Stockbridge and Howe Street.'
In Spurtle's opinion, the letter contains a rather telling admission: '[If] we miss this opportunity, then in all likelihood another major retailer would take our place.'
So, then, Sainsbury's arrival on the scene is not simply an altruistic move to improve locals' shopping experience. It is also a cynical spoiling exercise aimed at commercial rivals. The ruin of Howe Street's diverse retail charm would be collateral damage.
If you have any questions or comments, Mr Bishop does not want to hear from you. He would far rather you contacted Sainsbury's 'communication consultant' Euan Glen at euan.glen@ppsgroup.co.uk or Tel. 0131 226 1951.
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