Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Corner shop crisis as supermarkets move in
Bashir Chohan, chairman of Dundee Islamic Society, said there was now serious concern among corner shop owners throughout the city, following a major downturn in business.
Mr Chohan said: “This situation has been getting worse recently. There was an issue about four years ago when many of the shopkeepers in our community were concerned that business was slow.
“We survived that and most were able to continue, but recently the situation has definitely got worse. I have had at least a dozen shopkeepers come to me recently very worried. In some cases they are struggling to make ends meet.”
Mr Chohan said he believed the problem lay with an increase in rates combined with a proliferation of big named supermarkets currently operating in Dundee.
“Rates have gone up by about 25% and our shopkeepers can’t afford this while their profits are continuing to fall.
“There are also around 40 big name supermarkets in Dundee that our shopkeepers simply can’t afford to compete with.
“Corner shop owners simply can’t afford to compete with the prices that the larger supermarkets offer to their customers.
“This is a distressing time for the shop owners and for local communities who could lose their corner store.”
He said t hat i n a bid to do something about the situation he and some of the shopkeepers had met with representatives of the city council.
“We’ve met with the council’s director of corporate services, Gregor Colgan, to ask him to help.
“We’re aware there is a scheme
ASIAN shopkeepers i n Dundee are “struggling to make ends meet” due to business rate hikes and an explosion of big name supermarkets, according to a Muslim community leader.
where shopkeepers can get rates relief and that would be a massive help to our shopkeepers.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “There are currently 2,438 businesses in the city who benefit from 100% small business bonus relief.
“We understand the importance of the service that local shops provide in their communities and the role they have in boosting the vitality of a neighbourhood.
“They also create employment and income and form part of the rich mix of shopping choices in the city.
“We are always happy to meet with representatives of businesses i n Dundee to discuss how best we can support them to continue thriving.” Ourvoice PAGE 16