BRC defends supermarkets against claim price cuts cost jobs

by talkingretail.com/ - 20/10/2009

"The British Retail Consortium has defended supermarkets against the accusation that they could jeopardise thousands of jobs in the food industry by cutting prices."

The Unite trade union warned that aggressive price-cutting by major retailers was driving down profits in the supply chain and putting jobs at risk.

Unite's deputy general secretary Jack Dromey said: "The supermarkets have immense power but they do not exercise that power responsibly."

But the BRC said the stores were just trying to get the best value for their customers.

Andrew Opie, the BRC's director of food and consumer policy, said: "It's not in retailers' interest to put UK businesses out of business, we want a sustainable long-term relationship with suppliers."

The Competition Commission has asked the government to appoint an ombudsman to ensure supermarkets treat their suppliers fairly.

More Details: http://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/13426-brc-defends-supermarkets-against-claim-price-cuts-cost-jobs.html