What happens when Tesco comes to town?

Well, in Honiton it seems you get two for the price of one. I gather they have just bought the Honiton Business Park which will probably be the site of Tesco 2 in the town. Bear in mind that we already have Tesco in Axminster, Exmouth and in Sidmouth (albeit, in Sidmouth, it is only a small one - wonder why when Sidmouth is twice the size of Seaton?). I presume EDDC would not want to consolidate Tesco's monopoly position in East Devon by letting them into Seaton too - surely not?

I can't understand the traders who say, "It won't affect me if they build a big supermarket in Seaton". I know some of them say, "Ah, we have a superior product and people prefer that so we will be OK". I am sure many people will continue to shop with the independents, but all of them? Surely it needs only a small proportion of their customers to defect to make a difference to the profitability of their businesses? And we all know how principles can waver when we have run out of something and the supermarket just happens to be the nearest shop and time is tight. And what about "predatory pricing" (big supermarkets offering things at below cost price to entice people in). In one town Tesco were offering £10 off your shopping if you spend £50 here in the first months of their opening. Does everyone refuse these offers and stick with the smaller stores?

In today's Guardian the owner of a small convenience store in Norfolk says "The 1,400 sq m Tesco now dominates the entrance to the [town]. ... In the first week of the superstore's opening the Stalham Shopper's turnover fell by 60% and stayed there. .... Several other shops and most of the old market have now disappeared from Stalham High Street and, worryingly, Tesco has now applied for permission to double the size of the store".

Bear in mind that the superstore offered by the developers is 5,000 square metres (six times the size of the current Co-op, not four times as reported in the Midweek Herald this week).