Nisa-Today's members have expressed anger at both company executives and the rebel shareholders responsible for the collapse of the proposed merger with Costcutter.
Bob Surridge, joint-managing director of Anglian Convenience Stores, questioned the competence of the Nisa-Today's executive board.
"If the deal could be derailed that easily, then why were they doing it in the first place?" he asked. "Somebody has made a huge mistake and I have no doubt there will be calls for
resignations."
Chris Futter, managing director of symbol group Redorange, criticised the tactics of the Nisa Members Association for bringing its complaint of cartel activity to the Office of Fair Trading. The complaint was the primary reason for the merger failure.
Futter said: "It is sad that the NMA had to go the OFT and could not have dealt with the matter internally." Futter added that the company needed a period of consolidation to allow members to get back to the basics of retailing.
NMA committee member Adrian Costain of Pareto Retail said that he was confident Nisa's membership could put these troubles behind it. He claimed: "Nisa remains the most efficient operator for the independent retailer. We need to press on and examine other opportunities for co-operation in the sector."
Costain suggested that tie-ups with Landmark Wholesale or the Co-operative Group should be re-examined.