Quote:
Originally Posted by Parallex
I think an arms length crown corporation public grocer is a great idea.
A: We don't have enough competition in this country amoungst grocers
B: It would provide public confidence that grocers aren't... say... colluding to fix the price of bread.
C: Galen Weston isn't exactly hurting for dough (literally and figuratively)... they all make billions in profit yearly so it's not like there isn't a business case for it if you're willing to eat the start-up costs and I'm perfectly content with taxpayers getting a slice of those profits.
D: Even if they do privatize it down the road so long as they sell it to a Kroger or an Aldi it's still a net positive because that's more competition.
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I had a thought about the start-up costs too. The Federal Government already has grant and loan programs to help with home building, specifically high-density apartment buildings where there needs to be a commitment to keep the units as rental property for 10 years as affordable housing.
While they are building these apartment buildings, they could build the public grocery store on the ground level. Westbrook patch of dirt could become a 6 tower development with a public grocery store to anchor the retail.
Having the synergy between the two projects would help with the housing crisis and the affordability crisis at the same time.