Whenever I dash into our local Tesco Express for anything other than the bare necessities it's just the frustrating precursor to then instead having to drive to its larger sibling; or else to that of one its three main competitors, all within a two mile radius of home. Whose interests are actually being best served through this focus by the multiples on convenience retailing? Surely God gave us supermarkets so we could escape the drab alternative of what was available on our own doorsteps. Why then turn back the clock? Being able to pick up this evening's dine in for £10 offer on impulse whilst rushing for the train, I can see the convenience in that. Likewise, if the pocket supermarket up the road could serve up grated nutmeg, sesame oil or flageolet beans on demand. But it can't; post code lottery syndrome, no doubt. Even if it somehow could then I'd still be stuck interminably in a queue of people intent upon meeting more than their immediate needs, with only one cashier to help them do so. One man's convenience is another's complete waste of time.
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