Dear Editor:
Regarding the article in last week's paper dealing with the decision made by the competition bureau to close the Thrifty's store in Sapperton. Something to me just doesn't add up.
Now, I certainly don't profess to know the inside workings of the bureau, but spokesperson Phil Norris's exclamation as to why the decision was made leaves me wanting. The statement that "in certain markets, such as New Westminster, the parties have a significant share and the extent of other competition is limited" is pure hogwash. What about the "limited" share that the Pattison group appears to now have? With the word that Save-On will be moving in to the site formerly occupied by IGA, it will now have four locations within a stone's throw of each other: Two locations in New Westminster, one just over the Burnaby border at Highgate and a Price-Smart at Market Crossing. All within the geographical measure that encompasses the four locations that would be held by Sobey's.
I'd like to know what the bureau regards as a "local market." Let's just take a quick look at what I would deem as our "local market." In seven square miles of Westminster proper, there are three Safeways, soon to be two Save-Ons, Thrifty's and independents like Donald's Market at the Quay and Uptown Market on Sixth. Not to mention Wal-Mart's grocery section just over the bridge at Queensborough Landing. Add to those the aforementioned Price-Smart and Save-On locations, throw in the Choices up at the Crest and some would think there to be a certain saturation of the grocery market for the size of the geography. So why is Thrifty's the store facing expulsion from the "local market" and three Safeway locations are to remain? If the concern is over the size and control one operating party has in a certain market, close one of those three. I rarely see more than a handful of people coming or going to the Safeway at the SkyTrain plaza.
The Brewery District development has breathed new life in to the Sapperton area, and the Thrifty's outlet has been a big part of the community in its short time there. So why pull the rug out from under the feet of a solid foundation?
I join a long list of residents from not only our city, but those who come from other communities to shop at the Thrifty's location, hoping something can be done to reverse the decision and allow Thrifty's to remain in its current home.
David Jack, New Westminster
