I'm trying not to be controversial here, BUT. My local sainsbury's provides me with a free car parking space where I can walk my kid to nursery. A free new and clean outdoor play area. A place for me to walk to all the local shops on the same street (pet shop, etc and drop off stuff to the charity shop).

The local tescos employs friends of mine. They have a good job, with training, pensions and job security which has flexible enough hours to manage their childcare issues - while I notice sainsburys has a lot of staff who you would class as 'pensioners', who like their jobs and their wages supplement their pensions.

I may be 'buying in to their marketing' BUT When I buy smoked salmon labelled "Isle of Skye etc", i feel glad that relatives of mine, living on those islands, have found a regular buyer for their produce. . . . which I would never get to buy if a big supermarket didn't stock it.

I still shop at a local butchers - but as I can't get close to them, i go once a month and stock up the freezer.

I guess what I am saying is, that you can have the best of both worlds