Since the opening of the Caerphilly Carrefour in September 1972, a second has opened at Telford and planning permission has been sought for many more. Other companies have opened hypermarkets and superstores: Asda, Scan, Tesco and even Sainsbury. More than a year after the first opening several surveys and studies have been undertaken: analysing customer reaction and monitoring the effects on other traders in the areas. Here we report on just some of them.