Dozens of people have signed a petition calling on Tesco to re-think its decision to force a popular snack van to leave the car park outside its Burnham-On-Sea store.
Andy Bell from West Huntspill got permission from the supermarket giant in January to set up his small business offering hot food and drinks in a corner of its Burnham car park back – but now he is being forced to move out following a change of national policy.
“Tesco was initially very welcoming to me and was keen to help me set up here as a small business and to offer its customers a food service,” he told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“But in August that all changed when they served me with a month’s notice and have asked me to leave because of a policy change.”
“I’ve received a large number of messages of support from customers and a petition was started but Tesco still says I have to leave.”
“People have been writing to Tesco’s head office in my support to encourage the company to re-consider.”
Andy added: “I had a slow first few months of trade but have begun to show a small profit recently as trade has picked up so it’s very disappointing that they are asking me to leave. I have been offering a healthy Thai menu alongside traditional English items to emphasize our healthy food.”
A spokeswoman for Tesco’s Burnham store told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Tesco has changed its national policy on allowing independent retailers to trade next to its stores. This used to be controlled locally but is now decided at our national base and Andy has unfortunately been asked to leave and we wish him well.”
Andy will have to leave the store’s car park in Ben Travers Way on Sunday 14th September.
Pictured: Andy outside his snack van at the Burnham store holding a book of supportive messages from customers
