Competition laws may destroy small towns, warn TDs

SMALL towns risk being destroyed by competition laws if butchers, bakeries and small shops are replaced by big supermarkets chains.

The Competition Authority was told by politicians that social and environmental responsibility and community cohesion need to be taken into account when promoting choice in the grocery sector.

The authority yesterday met TDs at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment as part of a process to identify why Irish consumers are paying more than their European counterparts for food products.