A better retail model

sir – Peter Hay’s letter (January 25) about Tesco’s treatment of farmers reminds me that not all retailers are the same. For instance, Morrisons and Co-op are good examples of vertically integrated businesses, owning and operating many farms and other production and supply businesses in order to stock their shops.

Local markets can also be surprisingly reasonable in price for locally produced goods, and offer a far more beneficial arrangement than the “pile it high, sell it cheap” approach. Mark Robbins

Bruton, Somerset