HC Deb 13 April 1978 vol 947 cc519-20W
Mr. Adley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of supermarket trading methods as a factor in the demise of bread manufacturing by Spillers.

Mr. John Silkin

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which reported in July 1977 on the supply of flour and bread, concluded that one of the factors which effectively restrained the net price of bread was the existence of large and powerful buyers. The Commission pointed out, however, that the power of large buyers was not confined to supermarkets and large chains of retailers but was increasingly being exercised by small retailers through buying groups.

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