A STUDY of the EVOLUTION of CONCENTRATION in the FOOD DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY for the UNITED KINGDOM October 1977
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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES A STUDY OF THE EVOLUTION OF CONCENTRATION IN THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM October 1977 In 1970 the Commission initiated a research programme on the evolution of concen tration and com petition in several sectors and markets of manufacturing industries in the different Member States (textile, paper, pharmaceutical and photographic pro ducts, cycles and motorcycles, agricultural machinery, office machinery, textile machinery, civil engineering equipment, hoisting and handling equipment, electronic and audio equipment, radio and television receivers, domestic electrical appliances, food and drink manufacturing industries). The aims, criteria and principal results of this research are set out in the document "M ethodology of concentration analysis applied to the study o f industries and markets” , by Dr. Remo LINDA, (ref. 8756), September 1976. This particular volume constitutes a part of the second series of studies, the main aims of which is to present the results of the research on the evolution of concentration in the food distribution industry for the United Kingdom. Another volume, already published (vol. II: Price Surveys), outlines the results of the research on the distribution o f food products in the United Kingdom, w ith regard to the evolution of prices and mark-ups, based on a limited sample of food products and on a limited number of sales points in the Greater London area. Similar volumes concerning the structures of the distributive systems and the evolution of prices and mark ups have been established also fo r other Member States (Germany, France, Italy and Denmark). COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES A STUDY OF THE EVOLUTION OF CONCENTRATION IN THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM VOLUME I Industry structure and concentration by Development Analysts Ltd., 49 Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon, CRO 6PQ, England. Manuscript finished in October 1977 © Copyright ECSC/EEC/EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg, 1977 Printed in Belgium Reproduction authorized, in whole or in part, provided the source is acknowledged PREFACE The present volume is part of a series of sectoral studies on the evolution of concentration in the member states of the European Community. These reports were compiled by the different national Institutes and experts, engaged by the Commission to effect the study programme in question. Regarding the specific and general interest of these reports and the responsibility taken by the Commission with regard to the European Parliament, they are published wholly in the original version. The Commission refrains from commenting, only stating that the responsibility for the data and opinions appearing in the reports, rests solely with the Institute or the expert who is the author. Other reports on the sectoral programme will be published by the Commission as soon as they are received. The Commission w ill also publish a series of documents and tables of syntheses, allowing for international comparisons on the evolution of concentration in the different member states of the Community. ! VOLUME ONE INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND CONCENTRATION This Report commissioned by the Directorate-General for Competition of the Commission of the European Communities has been carried out by Development Analysts Ltd., under the direction of R.W. Evely, B. Sc.(Econ.), in consultation with Professor P.E. Hart, B. Sc.(Econ.), of the University of Reading. This Volume is the first of two Volumes which concern the following topics: Volume 1: a study of concentration at the industry scale for the UK food distribution industry, 1969-74. Volume 2: a study of food shops' prices at the retail distribution level. Volume Two was published in November 1976 and comprises two parts, the first of which sets out the Methodology suggested by Dr. R. Linda, (Head of Market Structure Division, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels), for the analysis of Price Survey research as applied to food distribution. The second part presents the research findings of two Price Surveys conducted in one part of the United Kingdom during 1976 and was prepared by A.J. MacNeary, B .A ., Development Analysts Ltd. CONTENTS 1; GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY .... 11 Introduction................................................................................ .......... 11 1.9 The Arrangement of the Report. .... 12 1.11 Summary of F in d in g s ............................... ......................................... 13 1.12 Conclusions............................... 18 2: CHANGES IN RETAIL TRADE, 1950-75 . 21 2.5 Retail Food Sales . ....... 22 2.8 Diversification within Food Shops . 22 2.19 Conclusion ........................................... ...............................................24 Tables 2.1 to2.12 . .............................................................. ..........25 3: THE PRIVATE GROCERY TRADE . 35 3.3 The Advent of Self-Service . 35 3.8 Changes in the Structure of the Grocery Trade . 37 3.15 Margins and Costs . 38 Tables 3.1 to 3 . 9 ............................... 41 4: CONCENTRATION AND PERFORMANCE AM O N G MULTIPLE GROCERS . ............................... ..........49 4.7 The Largest M u ltip le s ......................... .................................... 50 Tables 4.1 to 4.9 . ...... 52 5: THE LEADING GROCERY MULTIPLE CONCERNS . 59 5.4 Allied Suppliers Ltd. 59 5.8 International Stores Ltd. ............................................ 60 5.10 Moores Stores Ltd. ........................................................................ 61 5.13 J. Sainsbury Ltd. ............ 61 5.15 Tesco Ltd....................................................................................... ..........62 5.17 Fine Fare Ltd. .... 62 5.18 Changes among the "Top 6", 1968-74 ...... 62 5.21 The Medium-Sized Multiples ............................................................63 5.22 Key Markets Ltd. .... 63 5.26 Budgens Ltd.............................................. ... 64 5.28 The O t h e r s .......................................................................................... 64 5.31 The Smaller M u ltip le s ......................... ...............................................65 5.38 The In n o v a to rs .....................................................................................66 5.39 A s d a ...................................................................................................... 66 T 5.43 Kwik Save Discount Group Ltd. ....... 67 5.45 Carrefour .............. 68 5.48 Woo I co ............. ■ - - 68 5.50 Bejam Group . - ......................................- • « 68 Tables 5.1 to 5.5 . - . 70 6: THE INDEPENDENT GROCERY SECTOR . 75 6.7 Voluntary Group Trading .... - - 76 6.20 Cash and Carry W h olesaling.......................... ...................................79 6.28 The Structure of Grocery Wholesaling . - - • . 80 6.37 The Marketing Groups . 82 6.42 Voluntary Group Links . ............................... - - - - 83 6.44 The Retailer Buying Groups . .... 83 Tables 6.1 to 6.9 . ..... 84 7: THE FRESH FOOD TRADES ......... 93 7.2 Butchers . 93 7.11 The Leading M ultiple Retailers ........ 95 7.14 Meat Wholesaling ............ 96 7.23 Greengrocers, Fruiterers . .................................................. 98 7.27 Fruit and Vegetable Wholesaling ..... 98 7.31 Bakers . .... 100 7.38 Dairymen. ............................................ 102 7.43 Fishmongers, Poulterers . 103 7.46 Summary . - 104 Tables 7.1 to 7.10 . 105 8: CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES . ■ . - ■ 115 8.7 Cooperative Share of Food Sales . .... 117 8.13 The Largest Retail Cooperative Societies . - 118 8.15 The Cooperative Wholesale Societies . - . 118 Tables 8.1 to 8.6 . - . - - • • - 119 9: SALES CONCENTRATION IN THE RETAIL FOOD TRADES 123 9.9 Advertising Expenditures . 124 9.13 Changes in Sales Concentration Among Grocery Retailers . 125 9.20 Changes in Sales Concentration Among Other Food Distributors ..................................... ...... 126 Tables 9.1 to 9.12 . ...................................... 128 10: THE COMPUTER GENERATED MEASURES OF CONCENTRATION ■ ............................................................... 137 10.1 Introduction ............................... ................................................. 137 10.3 The Variables and Sources Used . .... 137 10.7 The Number of Firms in the Sample and Values of the Variables Used . 139 10.9 Change in Composition of the Sample . ...... 139 10.12 The Direction and Change in Concentration . 140 10.24 The Proportionate Growth of Large and Small Firms . 143 10.28 Profitability and Size of Enterprise . ............................... 144 10.34 Conclusion . ............................... ...... „ . _ 145 Tables 10.1 to 10.13 ............................................................... 146 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Food Distribution Interests of Leading Food P ro c e s s o rs ............................................ 159 Appendix 2: Sources of Statistical Tables . 161 Appendix 3: The Measures of Concentration - symbols and formulae ..... 163 Appendix 4: The Computer Generated Measures of Concentration . ...................................... 167 Appendix 5: Tables of Comparative Performance Between Sample Firms, 1969 and 1974 . 219 - 11 - 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1.1: This Report deals with the recent trends in the food distributive trades of the United Kingdom, and changes in the level of concentration among the concerns active in this field, and forms Vol. 1 of a two-volume study. 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