equilibrium. Most importantly, it allows species to be resilient to change. As the
biologist and author Barbara Kingsolver wrote, âAt the root of everything, Darwin
said, is that wonder of wonders, genetic diversity. Youâre unlike your sister, a litter of
pups is its own small Rainbow Coalition, and every grain of wheat in a field holds
inside its germ a slightly separate destiny⊠genetic diversity, in domestic
populations as well as wild ones, is natureâs sole insurance policy.â
But there is also a strong parallel between genetic diversity in the natural world and
retail diversity on our high streets. Where loss of genetic diversity threatens the
survival of species and makes natural ecosystems vulnerable to collapse, clone
towns imperil local livelihoods, communities and our culture, by decreasing the
resilience of high streets to economic downturns and diminishing consumer choice.
The parallels between economic and ecological systems were explored by the
eminence gris of American community activists, Jane Jacobs. In The Nature of
Economies she argues that the degree of diversity determines what benefits get
left behind. Whether itâs after sunshine and rainfall in the case of the ecosystem, or
when money gets spent in the local economy, âThe practical link between
economic development and economic expansion is economic diversity.â But
diversity is exactly what is being lost both in the United States, and through its
exported business models in the UK.
Take one example. About 40 years ago Wal-Mart was a one-man general store,
now itâs a vast, global brand with over 100 million customers per week, 4,000
stores worldwide and a new Wal-Mart opening somewhere in the world every three
days. Along with Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Puerto Rico, China and
Indonesia, itâs now firmly rooted in Europe, especially in Germany and the UK,
where it took over the supermarket chain Asda in 1999.
The Wal-Mart policy of out-of-town developments and âstack-âem-high sell-âem
cheapâ retail is the economic equivalent of carpet-bombing the local economy.
According to one US study, âIn the 10 years after Wal-Mart moved into Iowa, the
state lost over 555 grocery stores, 298 hardware stores, 293 building suppliers,
161variety stores, and 158 womenâs clothing stores, 153 shoe stores, 116 drug
stores and 111 childrenâs clothing stores. In total some 7,326 businesses went to
the wall.â
1
In Britain, supermarkets like Tesco grasp a rising share of the nationâs shopping
basket, with nearly 2,000 stores in Britain alone and, by the end of 2004 almost
30 per cent of the supermarket sector. According to a report written by Alan
Hallsworth of the University of Surrey for the Association of Convenience Stores in
February 2005, "Tesco currently open one Express store each working day." As
they expand, small general stores close at the rate of around one per day and
specialist stores, like butchers, bakers and fishmongers, counted together shut at
the rate of 50 per week between 1997 and 2002.
Trends like these are not just an attack on small businesses though; they also
threaten choice and diversity. Tesco is reportedly following in Wal-Martâs footsteps
in the influence it exerts over magazine publishing. In the US, Wal-Mart actively
censors publications. In the UK, The Observer newspaper recently reported senior
magazine editorâs fears, that changes to the way that titles are distributed (due to
come into force on 1 May 2005), would make supermarket control of editorial
content the âinevitable outcomeâ.
2
Already major players in magazine sales, the
supermarkets are eyeing the independent newsagent sector through moving into
the smaller âLocalâ, âMetroâ and âExpressâ formats. Whereas independent local
newsagents typically carry a massive range of magazine titles, the multiples
broadly concentrate on only the top 100 titles with the biggest turnover to
maximise profit. The same is true for the sale of CDs and DVDs. So, not only do
they reduce the range of shops available in these areas, they reduce the choice of
goods readily available too.
Ian Locks, chief executive of the Periodical Publishers Association believes that the
rule changes on magazine distribution in favour of supermarkets could put 12,000
smaller retailers out of business.
3
6Clone Town Britain