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Countrywide to Tesco - Helen (15th Jun 2008 - 00:05:25) Is the rumour that i have heard tonight by 2 different people true, that Countrywide is selling up and to become a Tesco. Has anybody else heard this or is it just a rumour.

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Rhys G (15th Jun 2008 - 17:36:44) Wouldn’t surprise me - that is both that the evil empire (Tesco) would want another store in between Bordon, Petersfield and Haslemere, but also because I think Countryside underestimated the market demand that would justify their presence in Liphook, giving the strength of existing suppliers of pet and equestrian supplies.

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Sue (16th Jun 2008 - 17:34:07) Helen As far as we know this is just a rumour. It has been going round for a while now, but seems to have built up quite a momentum. I think it is fair to say that they are not the attraction here, as they may have believed themselves to be!! The stock has depleted, the range reduced and things don't appear to be going well. This store is only one of about 30, so they have a huge market to call upon, but under today’s retail decline how much longer can their slower stores be supported? I suppose we just have to wait and see. IF it is Tesco - or any other supermarket then that can only be a good thing for both Liphook and Station Road, which has seen a drastic decline in footfall since the closure of Somerfield!.

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Nigel Stephenson (30th Aug 2008 - 19:03:14) Sue - I can confirm this is purely a rumour and Countrywide are here to stay. I would respectfully like to correct you on a couple of 'rumours' of your own that you've posted here !! The Liphook branch is one of some 43 stores and I'm informed, following the success of the Liphook store, the company is expanding rapidly in the South, having opened new stores in Waterlooville, Chertsey and Totton in the last year alone. Additionally, far from a depleted range, the Liphook branch has, according to the staff I have asked, expanded their range and indeed, the shop has won many awards within the group including National Store Standards. Perhaps rather than complaining continually, it would benefit some of the independent retailers to maybe open on Sundays as both Sainsburys and Countrywide are now regarded as 'destination' stores by the general public. Historically, independents benefit greatly from 'destination' stores and it would be nice to see other stores in Liphook open on a Sunday rather than it being a 'ghost' village. Plenty of other Surrey and Hampshire villages are buzzing at the weekend - come on Liphook, let's see what you can do !

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Sue (1st Sep 2008 - 20:23:13) Thanks for the confirmation that Countrywide intend to remain in Liphook, (but who are you?) and lets hope this is the end to the rumours that, Tesco, Morrison, Co-op and the cheap discount supermarkets! Nearly every one keeps telling us! As for commenting about ‘rumours’ saying that the range has depleted in some areas - it is true, as customers and residents alike, (and my own failed attempts to purchase) comment that they can no longer buy items in store. They may well have swapped them for other lines. You are quite right, a large number of stores do not open on Sundays, but there are at least 6 in Station Road that are open for all or part of Sunday Trading hours. The Cafe, Wine Shop, Hardware, Launderette, Bookies and Video Rental shop. (a few others over the years have tried it too) I think the Ghurkha Restaurant is also open. Its a hard ask for small traders to work 7 days a week, as paying for Sunday staff is for us a premium as we do not count weekend as normal days as many larger stores do when working their rosters We have chosen to close on Sundays during August, because prior experiences showed sales were well down on these Sundays so it made sense not to open. Now if you are telling me that you find it the opposite and local people show us a change in their shopping patterns - we for one will re-open again (August). By the way its now September and its back to 6 business open on Sundays! Talking of larger stores, Plumbase now closes 12noon Saturdays and has never opened Sundays. Perhaps you should give a bigger company a prod too! I will just impart a small detail - Station Road on a Sunday a few years back was a very busy place, when we had Balfours convenience shop (owned by the Co-Op a large concern) and Somerfields Another large concern - who sold out to Countrywide,. I am sorry to say, but the decline happened before they arrived and unfortunately no matter what you say, Countrywide has in no way attracted the same volume of shoppers that we lost. For that to happen a Tesco or Aldi would be terrific!. Please bear this in mind when comparing us to other areas – I would bet all those you think of will have at least one – perhaps two food outlets/newagents open in their street! There are plans and discussions for a Station Road Shops group (Not the official title), which have a number of ideas to promote Station Road, within the village and for those visiting; who are unaware that we exist - and that obviously will benefit Countrywide – so if you are connected to them or just an local with an opinion we welcome any helpful and proactive ideas of your own, please get in contact with Mr Rob Evans (who can be found at 14b Station Road, A3 Car rentals) I hope those people who have expressed an interest in opening a convenience shop now look into it again, as the uncertainty over the future had put them off!! If anyone else may be interested, Station Road and the local residents NEED a 'quick stop' shop. Sue

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - sue W (8th Sep 2008 - 09:39:31) Nigel Just thought I would share this with you - this Sundays sales were the best since April - so thanks for bringing it up, so I could highlight the fact of who is open! Saturday was busy, and it was good to see the pavements and carparks being used.

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - adam cross (12th Sep 2008 - 00:01:09) I have connections with one of the mentioned organisations and can confirm that this is far from gossip. Tesco are apparently in the proccess of purchasing not just the Liphook store but the entire Countrywide chain to merge with the Dobbies garden centre they purchased last year. These stores once part of the Tesco group will continue as they are but not become food stores

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Stephen (12th Sep 2008 - 17:07:37) Careful. Such a statement could constitute insider trading, unless already publicly known. As such it could lead to criminal penalties.

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Dawn Hoskins (13th Sep 2008 - 13:56:46) As an announcement is required whenever there is a firm intention to make an offer; if Tesco are in the process of purchasing the Countrywide chain, then market announcements would almost certainly have to have been made to the regulating bodies in order to comply with The Takeover Code. For listed companies, these announcements can be investigated, for free, on the LSE news page. Secrecy is paramount during the offer period to avoid market fluctuations which can artificially inflate/deflate the price. Trading in shares is strictly prohibited during this time also – by anyone considered to be and ‘insider’. It is also an offence to pass on inside knowledge to a third party with the intention that the 3rd party will profit by trading on the back of the inside information. Persons bound by these rules are lawyers, accountants, market traders, company directors / board members etc – but this does not usually trickle down to ordinary employees. Market rumour or press speculation does not amount to inside information however, whether it is completely wrong or even ‘on the right lines’. For this reason, I do not think Adam has much to worry about (unless he is on the board).

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Sue W (14th Sep 2008 - 12:47:28) This is very interesting. We have two 'trader' mags delivered to us,which are one of the first places to gain information about the retail industry and nothing has been mentioned in those about the Tesco takeover - however it has been well documented about the Gardencentre Dobbies. I would suspect that the old addage of 'no smoke without fire' fits this exactly - as there have been some very truthful information given to us about the proposed change - but the informants have had to be very secretative about it. I still question the former posters information - if he only gained the facts as he sees it - from the staff in the store - I can only say that was what the staff told me - but took it that they would be unaware of any intention to change and not the official standing of the company - indeed history has shown us that the workers within a store are the very last to know anything, as they would leave and the business they are trying to operate will cease to function properly - take the closure of the Somerfield store - the staff only knew hours before the company went public!. I somehow do not believe that this is pie in the sky, but it does sadden me that another supermarket is to take over a non food chain and that the much needed food part will not happen here. I would be interested if this may be taken to the competition comission?.

Re: Countrywide to Tesco - Helen M (23rd Sep 2008 - 15:17:03) I mentioned this to a friend and they emailed Countrywide. They sent a very nice but firm reply that they are DEFINITELY not leaving liphook and infact are adding more stock lines. Cant find the email now but if you are interested i can dig it out.

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