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Carn supermarket slams price
survey
20.05.09
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
CARNDONAGH SuperValu boss Gerry Doherty has
criticised what he described as an "inaccurate"
price comparison survey published last week and
warned that it was a threat to local business, their
staff and suppliers.
The cross-border survey, published in last Friday’s
Derry Journal, compared prices for a basket of goods
at six stores on either side of the Border,
including a comparison between SuperValu in Buncrana
and SuperValu in Derry.
“These kind of inaccurate price comparisons against
businesses in Inishowen are very bad not only for
the business itself but also the staff employed in
those businesses and their numerous suppliers,” Mr
Doherty said.
“If these price comparisons must be done they
absolutely must compare like with like, and that
wasn’t done last Friday.”
Mr Doherty pointed out that the SuperValu toilet
roll pack included in the survey, retailing at
€8.89, was from its luxury range, and he said it was
compared against the lower tier ranges in other
stores. “That’s grossly unfair and inaccurate,” he
said.
“For example, branded bread was priced on the
SuperValu list while the other two stores had
low-price options. We have a 60 cent Nice Price |
Bread in SuperValu but it wasn’t used. Line-for-line
comparisons must be done.”
“If you compare like-for-like the final tally from
last week’s price comparison should have read €19.41
in SuperValu and not €28.90 as reported,” Mr Doherty
said. “That is an undisputable fact and one that I
can absolutely stand over without fear of
contradiction.”
At that price, the basket of goods bought in
Inishowen would have been cheaper than its Derry
equivalent. |
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“SuperValu is a big supporter of local suppliers
with 75% of products sourced locally,” Mr Doherty
continued. “The likes of SuperValu in Carn is
supporting Irish jobs on all fronts. I was inundated
with calls from suppliers who were equally annoyed
at these unfair price comparisons.”
Meanwhile, questions have also been raised on
accuracy of the exchange rates accompanying the
Derry Journal’s article. Staff at NorthWest Currency
Exchange in Derry confirmed that the exchange rates
published were not available for small cash
transactions, but rather based on the headline rate.
Indeed, based on information supplied by the
currency trader, the basket of goods was 10cent
cheaper in Lidl in Buncrana than in its Derry
equivalent. |
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