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I am struggling with the logic of some people who are pushing conspiracy theory and unhealthy cynicism about the Booker / Tesco merger. There is no choice on consolidation. If you look at the market today, Amazon has not only got ambition and but also money in the bank after their recent acquisition in the bricks and mortar business... It’s quite the reverse for most of the symbol groups whose negative balance sheets alone speaks volume. Some of its members using meaningless jargon like independence are delusional. One only has to look outside your own bubble and see that the market is totally saturated and there is too much choice NOT LESS. That’s the reason why the convenience sector is struggling to provide the quality and the kind of offer that we all want. Scale is the key word and that’s why retailers should understand that they will not be in business if all they have to talk about enviously of Booker merger or simply espouse independence which no longer exists. Those retailers needs to be reminded that the luxury of so called “independence” has long gone. Partnering symbols and supporting scale is the new realty. Amazon and the German discounters are now serious challengers attracting all demographics which is the reason why the market has been spiked and we now have a perfect storm brewing!

Arjan Mehr Londis Bracknell