Retail Competition and Consumer Choice, 2002-2004

This project addressed the implication of the growth in concentration in food retailing in the UK – resulting from the consolidation and small store decline over the long term - with reference to its impact on consumer choice. The reference point of the study was the UK Competition Commission (2000) conclusion that the degree to which consumers will have adequate choice will depend on local circumstances. The project addressed this specific issue by exploring changing retail provision between 1980 and 2002 in an ‘average’ situation (Portsmouth), where extensive, large scale quantitative surveys of shopping behaviour were combined with qualitative studies to provide a richer understanding of different households' use and experiences of local retail provision.<br> <br> The baseline for the core of the study was the replication of a survey conducted in Portsmouth by Hallsworth and reported in: Hallsworth, A.G. (1988) <i>The human impact of hypermarkets and superstores</i>, Aldershot: Avebury. In addition, the approach and conceptual framework of the research were informed by two particular prior publications from members of the research team:<br> <li>Clarke, I (2000) 'Retail power, competition and local consumer choice in the UK grocery sector' <i>European Journal of Marketing</i>, 34(8), pp.975-1002;</li><br> <li>Miller, D. et al (1998) <i>Shopping, place and identity</i>, London, Routledge.</li>