THE days when there were fruit and veg shops, butchers shops, pie shops and specialist cheese shops in every high street have largely gone and the last decade has seen an unprecedented growth in the power of the main grocery retailers in the UK, says the Country Land and Business Association.

While it is hard to imagine turning the clock back, we need to appreciate the fact that this growth comes at a cost.

The reason the Government has seen fit to equip the Grocery Adjudicator with a set of teeth is because the very buying power of the supermarkets has brought distortion to the market and uneconomic trading conditions where the prices paid to producers and suppliers are too low to enable most to compete.

If, like me, you’re a bit of a last-minute merchant as far as Christmas is concerned, there is a chance to be redressed the balance and think about buying locally before turning to the internet, the supermarkets or the big chain stores.

The economic downturn continues to squeeze small independent retailers so buying Christmas presents and festive food locally is even more important than normal – not only will it boost the rural economy at a crucial time, but could actually make Christmas shopping much more enjoyable.

The CLA message is that quality and craftsmanship can be found at a local level and that local shops generally provide a better retail experience.

Local shops contribute to the economic health of our area, but the threats come not just from large supermarkets, but also the boom in internet shopping. A good Festive Season can help ensure that local businesses can survive and maintain their jobs and services through quieter times of the year.

Buying locally produced food and goods or spending money in local shops keeps wealth circulating in local communities – and helps maintain the rural environment.