High street help

Learning from our super markets

THE RECORD rise in supermarket sales over the past three months is another indication of the seismic scale of the Covid-19 crisis. However time will tell whether the increase, the biggest in more than a quarter of a century, will translate into profits – the large stores have incurred significant costs adapting to the demands of this challenge.

Yet, in fairness, they did keep the shelves stocked – once the panic buying had calmed down – and they continue to do their best to prioritise the needs of their most vulnerable customers. And there’s recognition that some changes – like strict control on the number of people entering the stores at any one time – could become more permanent.

Now it is to be hoped that the experience of the major supermarkets, like Yorkshire-based Morrisons and Asda, can be utilised when it comes to the reopening of nonessential shops, including independent stores, from June 15 if the Covid-19 rate continues to recede.

Their knowledge of Government guidelines could be incalculable at this point and crucial, too, to the gradual reopening of high streets and town centres across the region.

A spirit of mutual co-operation could be, potentially, priceless if people are to be persuaded that it is safe to leave their homes and venture back to their local high street in its hour of need.

And it is one area of the economic recovery where change can be entrusted to local communities using their initiative to support the greater good rather than waiting for Ministers to make a pronouncement. To paraphrase a more recent political slogan, we’re still all in this together.