The fight to save Kirkcaldy Tesco will go on until every shelf is empty and beyond, Fife’s council leader has vowed.
Councillor David Ross told protestors who gathered in the town this morning to oppose the closure that he still hopes to persuade Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis that the branch can become profitable.
The Hunter Street shop was named last month as one of 43 unprofitable stores which the supermarket giant is to axe across the country.
Its 189 employees were told again yesterday (FRI) that the branch will go.
But Mr Ross said: “We are not accepting that.”
He and MP Gordon Brown are due to meet Mr Lewis on February 23 and he said: “We will make the best case we can and put the ball back in their court.
“There is a turnover of well over £20 million at that store.If Tesco can’t make a profit from £20 million there’s something very wrong with the management.”
The firm has already rejected a package of proposals to cut costs at the store, including an offer of a year’s free rent from Postings Shopping Centre owners Threadneedle Investment.
But Mr Ross said another case was being prepared which will be placed on Mr Lewis’ desk, along with a petition signed by thousands of people and footage of the Valentine’s Day demonstration, at which around 150 people urged Tesco to “have a heart”.
It is feared closure of the town centre store will have a major impact on the High Street, resulting in a loss of custom for other traders.
There are also concerns about the impact on shoppers, particularly the elderly people who depend on the store and its Post Office for social contact.
Mr Ross said: “We can’t kid ourselves that Tesco has a big heart and is going to do the right thing morally for the town.
“But I believe there’s a strong commercial case for turning that store around and putting it into profitability.
“Tesco needs to know we are prepared to go on fighting for that shop and we will fight until every shelf is empty and beyond.”
A Tesco spokesman said: “In January we announced that our performance as a business has fallen significantly short of where we would want it to be and that to protect the future of the business in the UK we would close 43 unprofitable stores, including our Kirkcaldy store.
“The decision to close the store has been exceptionally difficult to take and we recognise it will affect many hard working colleagues, our customers and the local community.
“We are very grateful to those who have worked extremely hard to produce a package of proposals that could lower costs for our store.
“We have analysed the package of proposals carefully.
“With deep regret, even with the proposed reductions in our costs the store would continue to make a significant loss.
“It is with great sadness that we have to move forward with our plans to close the store.”
Former Prime Minister Mr Brown says he will sit down with Mr Lewis at Tesco’s headquarters in London on February23.
Mr Brown said: “Already, thousands have signed a written petition set up by Tesco store workers calling on the company to change their mind about deserting Kirkcaldy and threatening to put so many staff out of work.”
He added the meeting was “the next step” in a continuing dialogue with Tesco to persuade it to change its mind.
Mr Brown has argued the unique feature of the closure, which makes it doubly unacceptable, isthe loss of the main post offices.
It is estimated 4,000 elderly people use it every week.
He added: “I have put new financial figures to Tesco suggesting that there is a case for reconsideration. I believe they can adopt a cost-effective plan by staying.
“I have suggested to Mr Lewis that we could negotiate rent from the owner of the site, Threadneedle Street and that we could make the post office franchisemore attractive to the company.”