Multiple times in this piece, the author asserts that dollar stores drive local independent grocers out of business, and therefore, federal legislation is necessary to protect the interests and profits of these competing grocery stores.
There must be a reason the existing businesses eventually go under. Do they have worse service? Smaller product selection? Higher prices? When a family dollar comes in and opens shop, the consumer is making an active choice, they are not compelled to shop there. If the consumer is choosing not to shop at the pre-existing stores, it tells me that they weren't doing a good enough job serving the community.
Last year, nearly half of new stores that opened in the U.S. were chain dollar stores, a degree of momentum with no parallel in the history of the retail industry.
There must be a reason the existing businesses eventually go under. Do they have worse service? Smaller product selection? Higher prices? When a family dollar comes in and opens shop, the consumer is making an active choice, they are not compelled to shop there. If the consumer is choosing not to shop at the pre-existing stores, it tells me that they weren't doing a good enough job serving the community.
The author doesn't explore this question.