How to save face in the supermarket business

When my late uncle opened an early version of a supermarket on a new housing estate in Drogheda, Co Louth in the mid-1950s, he (aggrievedly) lost out to the shop next door in the winning of the sole licence to sell newspapers in the area.

Arising from this serious competitive disadvantage, I as a lad had the daily task of flying down on my bike to the different newsagents in the centre of the town and buying up evening papers in one’s, twos or threes to minimise suspicion. Then I hightailed it back to my uncle’s and stuffed each copy into the display board.

Of course Mr Grogan sold newspapers!

Oliver McGrane

32 Marley Avenue

Rathfarnham

Dublin 16