My local home town has been opposing the building of a Tesco store on the site of the farmer's market for a couple of years now. The whole town is against it, including most of the town council. The only people in support of the proposed store are councillors in Tesco's pocket and Tesco themselves. But the way things are going--- yes you guessed it--- Tesco will have their way and a new store will be built. So you can take it that supermarkets don't give a toss what you, I or opinion polls say.

The only way to hurt them is start speaking their language -
that is money - ie spend yours elsewhere.
The only way to get rid of them is to shop locally - small traders & shopkeepers, keep the money in your community

I realised this 3 yrs ago - you can't be a greeny/community activist/whatever label you feel happy with & shop at Tossco or whoever - I started trying to only buy the 'reduced' and 'loss leaders', then realised they were still leading me astray with all the crap offers & marketing instore. So I stopped using them - totally.
OK I probably spend a bit more time & money onshopping nowadays
but I like going to othe local bakery & corner shops, where they know your name, will stop for a chat & try to get products you ask for

Try it - you might enjoy it - you have nothing to lose but your carrier bags.

Oh and while you're at it - readthe excellent Corporate Watch report 'whats wrong with supermarkets' - then you have all the arguments & facts to rant at other people with...

www.corporatewatch.org.uk

with the above comments, stop shopping in supermarkets NOW!. so many of us still do, while liking to think of ourselves as alternative and right on, sneaking into the $uper 2 save 20p in a couple of beers or whatever, looking the other way. we are still making this food mafiossi ever richer and more powerful hence screwing farmer environment comunity and our freedom to choose what we eat and where from. I also read the whats fucked with supermarkets booklet.. simple, brilliant, well written and a fantastic piece of research.
we are what we eat. we will get what we deserve.