NO-HEADLINE

Andy Lown, managing director of Tower Records, yesterday stepped up his one-man crusade against large supermarkets which sell cut-price compact discs and video tapes by offering fruit and vegetables at knock-down prices for a limited period at the music retailer's flagship store in Piccadilly Circus, London.

Cabbages, carrots and bananas jostled for shelf space next to Tower's cosmopolitan range of chart singles, Garage music and fetish books as Mr Lown launched a tirade against the likes of Asda and Tesco.

"Cut-priced campaigns by supermarkets may benefit customers in the short term, but in the long term they limit choice and restrict the creative development of new artists," he said.

"It is very alarming to see supermarkets simply creaming off the profits as soon as new bands reach the charts."

Mr Lown is particularly concerned about Asda's recently launched campaign, where stores sell all videos, CDs and other music ranges at VAT-free prices.

Photograph: Philip Meech