Competitions Commission Report

The results showed that over the period 1999 to 2006, entry by a new larger grocery store was, on average, associated with a reduction in the number of greengrocers and trading markets and an increase in the number of bakers in the following one to two years. However, it had no systematic identifiable effect on the number of butchers, convenience stores, delicatessens, fishmongers, health food stores and off-licences.

Specialist grocery retailers primarily sell an individual grocery product category and include bakeries, butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, health food shops and off licences. In 2007, there were approximately 8,000 off licences, 7,100 butchers, 6,500 bakeries, 3,600 greengrocers, and 1,300 fishmongers in the UK.