Our beloved local Spar, a cornerstone of our community located in Bury Saint Edmunds is scheduled to close its doors this coming February. This decision comes with the news that a new Tesco will take its place. While change can sometimes be welcomed in order to bring better services or to fulfill modern demands, this particular change threatens the livelihood of employees who have become familiar, friendly faces in our daily lives.

These staff members are more than just employees; they are friends. They know our names, celebrate our successes, and support us in challenging times. Many have worked in the area for years, contributing not only to their jobs but to the social fabric that keeps our community alive. 

With the transition from Spar to Tesco, these devoted individuals face the real risk of unemployment, which in turn threatens their livelihoods and the wellbeing of their families. In light of this, we urge Tesco to do the right thing by offering immediate interviews and fair consideration to all the current Spar employees. Their familiarity with the customer base and expertise gained from years of service is invaluable and would be an asset to any retailer. They must have priority!

While businesses have to make pragmatic decisions, they also have a responsibility to the communities they serve. Tesco has an incredible opportunity not just to expand their reach, but to enrich their new store with trusted staff members that customers already love and trust.

In addition to providing a smooth transition for employees, keeping skilled staff will also ensure that the local customer service Tesco offers is of the high quality our community has come to expect.

Join us in this effort to keep our neighbourhood staff employed and our community strong. Sign this petition to show Tesco that our community values these workers and believes in fair employment practices during this transition.