Food Ethics - Summer '07: big retail

Supermarkets want to go green, fair and healthy. Can they? The latest edition of our magazine examines the structural challenges facing supermarkets, with contributions from Bill Vorley, Andrew Fearne, Kath Dalmeny, Carlo Petrini, Lucy Siegle, Alan Knight, Sue Dibb, Colin Tudge and many others.

Supermarkets are looking greener by the day. The past few months have seen a spate of environmental commitments from the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer and Asda/Wal-Mart. Does this new green tinge signal fresh growth for the sector or is it a sign big retail has reached the end of its shelf-life?

This issue of Food Ethics puts the recent pledge-fest in perspective. The big players are cleaning up their act, but can they do enough? Could we ever shop loyally at a supermarket chain – and be the kind of customer they need us to be – yet also buy on fair terms for workers and live within the planet’s means?

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Analysis: buyer power
Who is paying for supermarkets to clean up their act? | Bill Vorley

Efficiency or exploitation?
Julian Oram on the blurred line between market dominance and abuse of power

Analysis: buyer power
Good, bad and ugly, but not systematic abuse | Andrew Fearne

Low-carb diet
Kath Dalmeny on choice and climate change

Analysis: choice
What does choice mean when it comes to shopping? | Kate Soper

Analysis: choice
How does town planning affect consumer choice? | Cliff Guy

Food that talks?
Alan Knight's ambitions for sustainable shopping

The big question: where next for food retail?
Sue Dibb | Neva Frecheville | Ella Heeks | David Hughes | Nick Monger-Godfrey | Richard Perks | Carlo Petrini | Lucy Siegle | Malcolm Veigas | James Walton | Judith Whateley (extended article by Lucy Siegle)

Watch what you wish for!
Corinna Hawkes on marketing health

Columns

Worldview
Cynthia Marin Jiménez on bringing fair trade home to Mexico

Capital concerns
Meg Brown on why the upsurge in organics is good for UK producers