Tesco announced today that they will be significantly cutting prices at a number of their stores in the Border region. They claim that the price cuts go up to 22%, and that they bring the price differential with NI supermarkets down to its lowest rate since 1979.
This follows another announcment, widely reported over the last few days, that Tesco will be removing many Irish brands from their stores. The change will take place in Tesco’s Border county stores and one shop in Cork.
The cost-cutting move is clearly being made to stop the transfer of business over the Border: it’s a bit disappointing for those of us who are not near the Border, and so won’t see any savings. The move to reduce the Irish brands on the shelves is even more dismaying, as it is bound to have a damaging effect on Irish supppliers (Tesco control about a quarter of the Irish supermarket business). What do you think? Will you continue shopping in Tesco if they stop stocking your favourite Irish brands?
If you want to read more: Conor Pope comments on the change in Pricewatch, and Kieran Murphy of Ice Cream Ireland talks in his blog about the devastating effect it will have on suppliers.