Mixed feeling as store chain opens in Windermere

7:00pm Tuesday 4th December 2012 in Business Photograph of the Author By Stephanie Manley, Reporter

BUSINESS owners and residents of a Lake District town have voiced mixed opinion over the opening of a new convenience store.

Supermarket chain Morrisons opened its new ‘M local’ in Windermere on Monday, creating 20 permanent jobs in the town.

The shop, which stocks over 100 lines of fresh fruit and vegetables and includes a hot ‘Food to Go’ section, is located on the former Style Trading outlet on Main Road.

Some have welcomed the move and say it gives people more choice about where they want to do their shopping.

Writing on The Westmorland Gazette website, fromtheheap said: “Morrisons is a breath of fresh air in Windermere. It’s about time the real world came to our doorstep instead of inflated tourist prices.

Shirley Johnston added: “I’m very happy for the people of Windermere. They will find their shopping bills are about half what they are now and there will be more choice.”

Readers also praised the firm for creating extra jobs.

But the new arrival has not pleased everyone, with many concerned about the effects on the town’s independent food outlets which they claim already provide what Morrisons offers.

Online, zaney5 said: “I think it’s a shame that a company such as Morrisons can basically come along and ride roughshod over those people that are struggling to make a living.”

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Lakesgirl81 added: “I wouldn’t even consider buying meat from Morrisons, when Huddlestons butchers already offer fantastic local meats and homemade pies.”

Owner of Huddlestons Butchers, John Nicholl, said he was worried about the potential impact on his business.

“It will take a percentage of our trade away without a doubt. The town works in harmony with itself at the moment, and this store will rock the applecart. We do not need another supermarket,” he said.

He added that it was very nice to hear people say they would continue to support him.

In response to the feedback, store manager Ben Shrewsbery said: “Our convenience stores aim to be different and offer products that complement what is available in other shops.

“Our M local gives people the chance to cook from scratch or find a ready meal even when they’re shopping late at night.

“We want to reassure residents that we are keen to contribute to the local community. We find that our stores help to increase town centre footfall and as such have a positive impact on trade in the town.”

Comments(18)

onelocal says...
8:17pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Any speciality shop in Windermere that has retained their customer base over the years that Booths have been there, such as Huddleston's and Clayton's should not be troubled by the new Morrisons store. Their selection of meat is limited, certainly when compared with Booth's.
The only stores that might be affected are the Coop and Booths themselves, and it will be down to competing on cost, service and range of products. The Coop in particular will have a hard time.

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Geoff103 says...
12:12pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Here we go again.

Local traders complaining about competition as if they have a divine right to their customers' business.

When John Nicholl says, "We do not need another supermarket" what he means he is not prepared to work hard enough to retain and satisfy his customers and they, his customers, should not have the opportunity to choose to spend their money elsewhere.

I hold no brief for Morrisons. I am unlikely to shop there since they don't provide the kind of product quality or service I value but there is far too much whining from local traders when faced with competition.

Here in Milnthorpe, that culture of assumption to trade without competition by local shops was successfully challenged and defeated with the opening of a new Booths store.

Windermere shoppers will now have the additional choice that some would have denied them. I hope shoppers vote with their wallets to show those who would have denied them that choice where to get off.

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luxwindermere says...
1:22pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Geoff103 wrote:
Here we go again.

Local traders complaining about competition as if they have a divine right to their customers' business.

When John Nicholl says, "We do not need another supermarket" what he means he is not prepared to work hard enough to retain and satisfy his customers and they, his customers, should not have the opportunity to choose to spend their money elsewhere.

I hold no brief for Morrisons. I am unlikely to shop there since they don't provide the kind of product quality or service I value but there is far too much whining from local traders when faced with competition.

Here in Milnthorpe, that culture of assumption to trade without competition by local shops was successfully challenged and defeated with the opening of a new Booths store.

Windermere shoppers will now have the additional choice that some would have denied them. I hope shoppers vote with their wallets to show those who would have denied them that choice where to get off.
Think the comments about John are harsh and unjust!

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ukmann says...
5:23pm Wed 5 Dec 12

@Geoff103.
I can't ever recall Anywhere in Milnthorpe being famous for its product quality OR its service that you so value. Pull your nose out of the air ........

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snuggle-bunny says...
10:29pm Wed 5 Dec 12

It will be interesting to see how many of the dissenting voices actualy shop there. I, for one, cant wait to try it. About time Windermere moved forward to 2012 and shook off it's 'Blackpool of the Lake district' image

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onelocal says...
12:04am Thu 6 Dec 12

Windermere doesn't and never has had a "Blackpool of the Lake District" image. I suspect you are probably thinking of Bowness on Windermere, which, although not in the same class as Blackpool, certainly needs an upgrade, which is in planning.
Windermere town, for its size has a pretty good balance of retail establishments. If they could resolve the traffic issues, it would be better.
Having said that, the arrival of a Morrisons 'M Local' is hardly the earth shattering event you seem to think. It's just a mini supermarket, selling pretty much the same products, albeit on a smaller scale as any other supermarket. It's a novelty at the moment, and will no doubt find its niche, probably at the expense of the Coop, but changing Windermere, I don't think so.

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Geoff103 says...
7:32am Thu 6 Dec 12

ukmann wrote:
@Geoff103.
I can't ever recall Anywhere in Milnthorpe being famous for its product quality OR its service that you so value. Pull your nose out of the air ........
Before you start insulting other posters, ukmann, you might do better to read and understand what they post.

You've managed to misunderstand my point about Milnthorpe and give it the completely opposite meaning.

But then the air is clearer here than where your nose is currently located.

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ukmann says...
9:00am Thu 6 Dec 12

I don't need to insult you Geoff. you do that yourself....... I happen to have been born in Windermere. Know most of the people there and went to school with John Nicholl. He happens to win prizes all round the country for his goods which he sells in his shop. So you have to ask yourself who is in the better position to make comment. I bet you have never been in his shop or shopped in Windermere, but then why would you when you live in sunny Milnthorpe Hahaha !!

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davidcattell says...
3:20pm Thu 6 Dec 12

how can it have created 20 jobs when about the same number of people in the previous shop probably lost theirs

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jazzactivist says...
5:20pm Fri 7 Dec 12

It's just predatory behaviour on the part of supermarkets, and Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys and Booths are all at it. They see a local area with thriving independent shops and lots of footfall and want to take that potential custom for themselves. There isn't anything you can buy in a supermarket that you can't already buy locally in our towns and large villages, but they still claim they offer something different and a 'choice'. Funny then that when they open they advertise exactly the same produce that could already be bought locally. The recent huge ad for the new Booths in Milnthorpe listed "butchery" first on the list, even though a really good independent butchers has been on the high street there for years!

By all means SLDC could grant planning permission to supermarkets if they can prove that there is a need - that they are going to sell items that cannot already be bought within a 10 mile radius of the site, and make them stick to it. But allowing supermarkets to create artificial competition with small local businesses is morally repugnant. We shouldn't forget that local businesses circulate money within our local communities, whereas big multinatonals siphon it out for their shareholders elsewhere. Surely none of us can afford to take that risk with our hard-earned money, especially during a recession

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LADY TILLY WINDERMERE says...
7:45pm Fri 7 Dec 12

Well I can still say I have not shopped in M local and wont be !! I am still supporting my local butcher, bakery, and coop so I can live without anothere supermarket.
And as for employing local people there are two from Windermere the rest travel from carlisle, kendal, the Manager is from Blackpool and all traveling daily so not many jobs gone to LOCAL people !! and I know 10 people from Windermere who went for jobs and didnt get employed .

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luxwindermere says...
9:08pm Fri 7 Dec 12

There are more than 2 locals working there!! I know them and know they are local.

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oceancloud says...
4:45pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Just because they are local doesn't necessarily mean they are suitable for a job!

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blaster760 says...
2:26am Sun 9 Dec 12

Its about time people start thinking about the working class low paid hotel staff working on £6ph. WIndermere may have local butchers but we cant afford to shop there and the holiday makers who get ripped off with the price of meals drinks shops in windermere bowness. It is getting like blackpool sadly and most of the greedy shop keepers n local bussiness are making it happen..WELL DONE MORRISONS i hope it makes the bussiness in the village go bust because at the end of the day u dont give a dam about the village just about your bank balances shut up moaning or sell up and move away

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zaney5 says...
6:36pm Sun 9 Dec 12

blaster760 wrote:
Its about time people start thinking about the working class low paid hotel staff working on £6ph. WIndermere may have local butchers but we cant afford to shop there and the holiday makers who get ripped off with the price of meals drinks shops in windermere bowness. It is getting like blackpool sadly and most of the greedy shop keepers n local bussiness are making it happen..WELL DONE MORRISONS i hope it makes the bussiness in the village go bust because at the end of the day u dont give a dam about the village just about your bank balances shut up moaning or sell up and move away
What a charming, polite soul you are. So when all the local shops that support these holiday makers go bust, and there are no holiday makers to be seen, what will you poor hotel workers do then? £6 an hour wages will be the least of your worries.

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ukmann says...
7:35am Mon 10 Dec 12

I thought most hotel workers get food and accommodation PLUS 6 pounds and hour but then I might be behind the times .... !!

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Babe92 says...
10:34pm Tue 11 Dec 12

I think the new morrisons local is a fantastic attribute to Windermere, bringing only positive vibes to the area. Not only has it created more jobs for LOCAL people, it is also allowing residents and tourists a wider range of shopping. If anything, current businesses feel threatened purely because of Morrisons competive prices & quality!! I personally will be shopping there again. My experience was outstanding as the staff and service was very friendly and I spoke to Ben the manager who was was very charming and couldn't help enough!! Thank you Morrisons!!!!!

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lakesailor says...
1:25pm Sat 15 Dec 12

davidcattell wrote:
how can it have created 20 jobs when about the same number of people in the previous shop probably lost theirs
Really? 20?

Where did they all hide?

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