Is chain just numbers on a balance sheet?

WITH all the talk of bids for Morrisons there seems little attention to the fundamental questions of whether Morrisons needs to be sold and what benefit it would bring to the company and what would be the effect on its loyal staff and customers.

When companies first became limited by shares, these were bought by wealthy individuals who believed in the future of the business and the ability of the owners/managers. Their return came from its success.

Now digitalised share certificates are traded across the world by individuals who have no real connection or knowledge of the company and, at worst, short sellers who want it to fail.

I hope Sir Ken Morrison would not be happy that the business he inherited and grew to be such a popular retailer is now where it is.

Is this what Edward Heath described as “the unacceptable face of capitalism”?

So what is Morrisons? Is it its staff, customers, suppliers, ethos and stores or is it merely a name in somebody’s share portfolio?

I have been a customer of Morrisons at Belper for 40 years since it was Safeway. Many staff have been there decades and I regard them as friends.

Over the last few months it has gone downhill, which I put down to insufficient staff, good staff leaving and being at the end of the delivery run, meaning they are unloading pallets when there are customers in store.

What tipped it for me was when one lady said she was ashamed of the state of the place. The question staff may be asking is whether a reduced service leads to a drop in footfall and an excuse to close a small store.

So I emailed the CEO because I care about the staff who have been good to me and who have done such a great job during the pandemic. Yes, you’re right I did not even have the courtesy of a reply, possibly busy working out what the sale would mean to him.

If Sir Ken had received my message I imagine something would have been done, and quickly.

I am reminded that when I was a little boy the Co-op was the only store in town. Owned by its members, buying in bulk and selling small cheaply.

Sadly, the management thought they should be more important, taking their eye off the ball and letting in the Cohens, who became Tesco.

Richard Massey,

Holbrook