In response to David Parsley
| 19 November, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
On Friday evening 16 November at 20:30, David Parsley sent Frances at Transition Town Totnes (TTT) along with Sarah Wollaston, MP and Pruw Boswell, Mayor of Totnes, an email copied below.
It followed another email directed to TTT, implying similar misconduct, and outlined 26 questions David Parsley required answers to and a deadline.
We publish Mr Parsley’s email because of its rather inflammatory nature.
Very simply, this is what we said:
“Finally, people continue to sign the No to Costa petition and our analysis of the figures shows that 75% of those who signed are from the TQ area and the rest are visitors from Exeter, Plymouth and further afield.”
Needless to say, we stand by our campaign.
We’re disappointed to hear some are unhappy with Costa’s decision but appreciate their right to a different opinion. Here’s hoping we can agree on this — it’s time to move forward…
Date: 16 November 2012 20:23:26 GMT
Subject: Transition Town Totnes Petition shows less than a quarter of Totnes residents were against the opening of a coffee chain
Dear Sarah, Pruw, and Frances,
After four weeks of trying, we finally got our hands on the legendary petition yesterday, and this afternoon completed our analysis of it at Follaton House. It wasn’t the most exciting task in the world, but it’s has certainly put and end to the myth that all Totnes was against a coffee chain opening in Totnes.
As you will all recall, all of you stated, on several occassion that no one in Totnes wanted Costa Coffee, or at the very least, the vast majority of people in Totnes did not want Costa Coffee. You all claimed the people of Totnes did not want Costa Coffee on many occassions. I do not believe I need to repeat your comments to the national media here to show that you were all claiming to speak for Totnes people while supporting the NoToCosta campaign.
Here’s the figures:
Signatories
Totnes Town Residents 2,016 from a total population of 8,336 (DCC 2011 pop figure)
Totnes Town and all TQ9 residents 2,895 from a total population of 22,869 (DCC 2011 pop figure)
Therefore, only half the people that signed the petition actually live in Totnes or the surrounding areas. The 5,700 figure was used on many occasions to claim the majority of those who live in the town were against Costa Coffee (forgetting the fact that the petition doesn’t even mention Costa Coffee). The truth is only 24% of people in Totnes Town signed the petition. So, how did you all claim that to be a majority? If we broaden it out to Totnes Town and all TQ9 residents then only 12% of the total population of the Totnes Borough signed the petition. Just under two-thirds of signatories don’t live in Totnes Town.
Therefore, could you answer the following questions as we will be running a story on Monday stating the anti-Costa campaign was based on a lie, perpetuated by our Mayor, our MP and the leader of Transition Town Totnes.
1. Why did you claim the majority of Totnes people did not want Costa Coffee when there was no evidence to support that?
2. We’re you deliberately lying to suit the agenda you were promoting to the national media and in your talks with Costa Coffee? If not, how do you explain your statements?
3. Have you seen the petition and checked it for yourself?
4. Did someone tell you the petition showed the majority of Totnes people were against Costa Coffee? If so who?
We were very generous to the campaign in collating this information form the petition. If someone simply wrote “Totnes”, we included in the Totnes Town column, even though many people refer to Totnes as their hometown while they may live in a neighbouring village. Anyone with a TQ9 5 postcode was included in Totnes Town, as were the many people who merely put the name of a pub (15 were form the Waterside alone) and numerous examples where the same person had clearly signed for their partner. There are numerous repetitions of signatures too, but we even included those for Totnes twice. So this we heavily weighted the analysis in the campaign’s favour, but still, less than a quarter of Totnes Town residents supported it, and just over one in ten of the all TQ9 residents supported it. We will, therefore, claim none of you had a mandate from the people of Totnes to claim the majority of the town did not want Costa Coffee and the entire campaign was based on a lie.
While, believe or not, I don’t take huge pleasure in writing such negative stories, I do believe I’ve gone beyond what is necessary to show the NoToCosta campaign, and your support of it, was based on a lie. Therefore, it there is a huge public interest in publishing this information.
I’ll be publishing on Monday at midday, so would really appreciate your answers to my questions before then.
Best wishes,
David Parsley
TweetThe Emperor’s New Clothes. Surely you can’t halt the onward march of the big business? Yes you can,
| 29 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news, Press |
…says David Randall, if you follow the lead of the townsfolk of Totnes in Devon
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-emperors-new-clothes-281012-8229281.html
TweetCosta sees the light!
| 25 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
We are absolutely delighted to hear from Costa Coffee’s Managing Director, Chris Rogers, of their decision to withdraw from Totnes. We are impressed Costa has taken the time to understand our town, its economy and the 5,700 people who signed the petition asking Costa to reconsider.
This is a major milestone for local communities and is a day when the value of localism comes into its own, albeit belatedly… Unfortunately, we’re now left with a situation where planning has been granted for change of use. We’d encourage South Hams District Council to learn the lesson that Costa Coffee has had to correct. If localism means communities have the right to decide what happens in their towns, its time for planners to understand this as well.
We’d like to thank Sarah Wollaston, MP, Mayor Pruw Boswell, the Town Council and the District Councillors (Robert Vint, Mike Hannaford, Jacqi Hodgson and Judy Westacott) and the two District Councillors members (Julian Brazil and John Squire) from outside Totnes who voted with us. We’d also like to thank the people of Totnes and the surrounding communities for their time, dedication and energy. It’s their enthusiasm that has enabled this campaign to succeed.
Finally, as Mary Portas says today, this could all have been avoided. We’re aware the premises remain empty and will be seeking a meeting with South Hams District Council to discuss how we move forward.
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Costa Coffee MD Chris Rogers promises “not to railroad into towns”
| 17 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
At a meeting hosted by Sarah Wollaston MP, Costa Coffee Managing Director Chris Rogers dodged the tough questions put by the Totnes MP and us on whether they would consider pulling out of the lease on the old Greenlife premises, what a chain meant to our community and on the price they pay for their milk. Woefully uninformed about Totnes and our community, Rogers did indicate it is not Costa’s intention to railroad into towns and that they “wish to be part of the community.” Furthermore, he promised to reconsider the decision and get back to Sarah next week.
We hope he’ll put his money where his mouth is.
And, we were heartened to see we’re not the only ones who feel Costa changes high streets for the worse. Note to Rogers: when the founders of your company say you’ve grown too big, it’s true.
Bruno Costa, who founded Costa Coffee with his brother Sergio in the 1970s, accused caffeine conglomerates of “monopolising” the market. In a candid interview with the Croydon Advertiser, the Italian-born entrepreneur said he no longer drinks the blend he co-invented, and regrets selling the business.
Mr Costa, 70, said: “As far as the coffee business is concerned, like here in Purley, I know it is monopolised by these three or four companies that don’t give much chance to the smaller ones.
“It reflects what the supermarkets have done to smaller shops in the high streets.”
In fact, as Costa is paying such a premium for their premises in Totnes, some landlords are already taking about higher rents.
Don’t be a Tesco, a Starbucks… Chris, if you really mean you won’t railroad into communities, here’s your opportunity.
Respond to the wishes of our community and ensure that Totnes doesn’t ever need a Portas Pilot. Don’t be the company that killed Totnes’ high street.
As Sarah Wollaston said, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
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Costa = Tesco says Bruno Costa, founder of Costa Coffee
| 16 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
THE Purley-based founder of the UK’s largest coffee chain has admitted there are too many of the stores in the town he calls home.
Bruno Costa, who has lived on the edge of Purley’s Webb Estate for 30 years, founded Costa Coffee with his brother Sergio in the 1970s, but has accused caffeine conglomerates of “monopolising” the market.
His comments come as Costa is set to open its 6th outlet in Purley, leading Mr Costa to liken coffee chains to Tesco, saying they have “taken over”.
In a candid interview with the Advertiser, the Italian-born entrepreneur also said he no longer drinks the blend he co-invented, and regrets selling the business.
Mr Costa, 70, said: “As far as the coffee business is concerned, like here in Purley, I know it is monopolised by these three or four companies that don’t give much chance to the smaller ones.
“It reflects what the supermarkets have done to smaller shops in the high streets.
“I like Purley very much. It is still a small community which is nice to go down to the centre, but the likes of Tesco have taken over.
“We were lucky at the time [we started Costa] that a Starbucks wasn’t nearby.”
The first Costa shop was opened by Bruno and Sergio in London
Victoria 34 years ago. Today, the chain has more than 1,390 outlets across the UK today and Bruno admits some misgivings about selling the firm.
“Yes, I have regrets,” he said.
“Regrets that we should have brought more of the family into the business and then get further maybe, not as much as Whitbread has now done. But there was room and space to improve by a big percentage on what we had done.
“It would have been nice for myself and my brother to carry on and bring the right people in.
“It would be very nice to be the head of that company again.”
The brothers, from northern Italy, founded the business in 1970 after the family moved to England 10 years earlier because they could not find work in their home country.
What started as a single roasting machine producing a blend that they sold to bars, hotels and restaurants, culminated in the opening of their first shop in Vauxhall Bridge Road.
Mr Costa sold up shortly after the London launch, selling his half to his brother, who controlled the business for another ten years before Whitbread bought it out.
Asked why he sold up, Mr Costa explained: “We were selling coffee to a country that was drinking tea; the taste for coffee was only in the rest of Europe at this point.”
Mr Costa later became a shareholder in an export company supplying supermarkets with fine Italian foods.
He remains the director of three companies; La Porcellana Limited, Tableware International Limited and Inista Properties Limited, according to Companies House records.
Although he is “impressed with the quality” of blend the UK’s largest chain has retained, he says he now prefers Nespresso.
Asked for the secret to a proper cup of coffee, Mr Costa revealed: “First of all, the most important thing is the blend, to achieve the right taste.
“Secondly, the coffee machines are very important, because with the technique you have to train the staff to make it the proper way, the right amount of everything.
“The milk and water also have to be at the correct temperature.”
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Costa-Coffee-founder-hometown-Purley-coffee-shops/story-17072582-detail/story.html
Costa Coffee reflects on moving into Totnes
| 15 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
http://www.totnesfm.co.uk/#/breakthrough-in-costa-battle/4569755894
Tweetand this from someone who felt the Costa logo needed some work…
| 10 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
In other news….a taster of the entries so far….
| 10 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
This one from a family after their visit to the Eden Project. Put together using the fridge magnets in The Core, Eden’s education centre. Sounds pretty appropriate…..
One for the kids
Costa Managing Director to come to Totnes
| 10 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
We are delighted to be able to tell you that Costa Coffee Managing Director and colleagues will be meeting with Sarah Wollaston MP, Pru Boswell – Totnes Mayor, Transition Town Totnes and representatives from the NotoCosta campaign including an independent coffee shop owner. The meeting, which will take place later this week, will give us the opportunity to put the questions to them that have formed the backbone of our campaign and which are based in the deep concerns we have about the impact of having a Costa outlet in Totnes and what it will mean to our town in the longer term. Concerns such as those that:
• The shopfitters and the signmakers aren’t local — taking much needed revenue away from ours.
• The promised 12 jobs may not materialise and actually mean 5-6 part time ones — whilst costing more established local ones.
• None of their food sourcing will be done locally, again depriving local businesses of revenue in tough times and undermining our local food economy which employs so many.
• The impact of Costa’s stated goal of growth, growth, and more growth on small market towns like ours, that celebrate and depend upon their individuality and independence, will be hugely detrimental
Costa have made it clear that they will not come if they think that they will be met with protest and out of a desire to be able to meet and have a constructive dialogue with them we have agreed to that. However, in return we expect them to take our questions and requests, which show the strength of feeling of the town, very seriously.
At the meeting we will be representing you and want to be able to table your specific questions and share your views. If you could take five minutes out when you read this blog and put your thoughts to us by either commenting below, emailing us on info@notocosta.co.uk, tweeting us @notocosta or posting on our Facebook page we can gather together all this information and present it to the Managing Director of Costa Coffee when we meet.
TweetWin a hamper of artisan, organic coffee from the fabulous Owens Coffee
| 2 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
…for the best image expressing the sentiment of the No to Costa campaign in Totnes and beyond.
The winner of the competition will receive a jute hamper donated by Owens Coffee — the artisan, organic coffee roasters located in the lovely town of Modbury, South Devon.
Here in Totnes, Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP is talking to Costa and they are close to agreeing a date for a meeting which we really welcome.
We welcome the opportunity to talk to them about the facts — the facts of what Costa’s outlet in Totnes will mean to our town. We’re concerned the shopfitters and the signmakers aren’t local — taking much needed revenue away from ours. We’re concerned they don’t know or care their new site is in one of Totnes’s many listed buildings. (Totnes’ high street has the most listed buildings in England.) We’re concerned the promised 12 jobs may actually mean 5-6 — while costing established local ones. We’re concerned none of their food sourcing will be done locally, again depriving local traders of business in tough times. And, finally, we’re concerned about noise and deliveries congesting our high street — and we’d like to know who to contact when such issues arise.
Mostly, we’re concerned about the impact of Costa’s stated goal of growth, growth, growth and more growth — growth that includes outlets on every corner according to Mr Harrison – on small market towns like ours that celebrate and depend upon their individuality and independence.
Being able to meet with Costa Coffee face to face means we will be able to put this case and hope that they will listen and fully understand that the days when businesses could impose themselves on communities which don’t want them without impacting their reputation and brand are long gone.
So, let’s send put our creative thinking caps on and come up with some images expressing our feelings about Costa Coffee to illustrate the main points of our campaign.
About the prize:
The winning entry will receive two packs of organic Owens Coffee in a jute hamper. You may select the blend of your choice. Owens Coffee roasts to order for optimum freshness and supplies some of the finest café’s, restaurants, pubs and retail establishments in Devon. All our coffee is roasted, blended and packaged on site from a carefully chosen, seasonal selection of the finest 100% Arabica beans to ensure a consistent high quality product. And, best of all Owens Coffee is Fairtrade and certified Organic! You’ll see the entries so far in an earlier posting below. The competition will close on October 17.
See more at http://www.owenscoffee.com/
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