Couldn't have phrased it better.

To add a personal perspective on this:
I don't actually like Sainsburys. We get meat, fish and veg from independent retailers and I rather grudgingly use the one in Forest Hill for other items. Virtually none of which are available in the current shops on HOP. So the nett affect for us would be to keep more of our shopping local, save time & give an added incentive to pop in another local shop and buy something. Everybody wins except the manager at Sainsburys Forest Hill.

Some businesses will probably need to diversify - if the Honor Oak Supermarket, for instance, were to stock fresh veg and dry goods á la SMB in Lordship Lane, I reckon that would work brilliantly with or without a Sainsburys, but especially with one.

It is sad to see White Wood go. I do hope a good business can start there soon. At this rate of closure, maybe even Sainsburys will get cold feet.