Nearly half of all towns have at least five supermarkets within a ten-minute drive. Not only this, but the big supermarkets are planning to build even more shops across the country.

A government-backed report carried out by Small Shops Group estimated that local shops would be wiped out by the big supermarkets by 2015.

The major supermarkets, known as "the big four" are Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, and most people are choosing to shop there, rather than at a local shop, called an independent retailer.

Last year 2,000 independent retailers closed down, and since 1945, the number of these local shops has fallen from 500,000 to a measly 35,500.
 
Now the “big four” supermarkets own 75% of the £80 billion grocery sector so things are looking bleak for the independent retailers.

Where do you shop? Does your family ever buy veggies which have been grown in locally?