SHOPPERS visiting the Co-op store in Holmfirth could be spending as much as £5m in a year.
The public inquiry into plans by Tesco to build a store in New Mil Road heard evidence from the Co-op, which has a store in Holmfirth centre, right.
The Co-op presented evidence that it “can and does” cater for a weekly food shop.
Nicole Johnson, a town planner for the Co-op, said a survey shows 40% of customers spent more than £30 in store.
Planning Inspector John Gray said he thought £30 was too low for a weekly shop.
Tesco, in cross examination, say the 40% figure is inaccurate and argued a local survey of 91 people showed just 16% spent £30.
Rupert Warren, for Tesco, said Co-op's local survey was well below the store’s national survey.
“Only 16% of people are doing their main food shop in Holmfirth,” he said. “Does that show that people are not doing their main food shop in the Co-op?”
“I suppose it does,” Ms Johnson replied.
The Co-op said an impact assessment had shown that a 40% loss in trade would mean it would have to reduce the store size, sub-let part of it and cut jobs. It said any changes to the Co-op store could remove a draw for people to the Holmfirth centre.
Ms Johnson said that based on customer surveys, the average spend in linked trips in the town centre was £18.88 per customer and that could lead to a loss of up to £5.5m overall.
The planning inspector had earlier heard a Lidl store in Holmfirth would be built by next February.
