Blue Square and Clubmarket followed in Supersol's footsteps
last week by announcing that they, too, will not open on
Shabbosos and holidays and will not stock non-kosher food
items.
The Blue Square chain is controlled by the Dudi Weissman
Group, and Clubmarket is controlled by the Borovich-Rosen
Group. The A.D.B. Supersol concern is chaired by Nochi
Dankner.
The managing directors of the three supermarket chains--the
biggest in the Israeli market--expressed hopes that
legislation will be passed to prohibit all stores from
opening on Shabbosos and holidays. They said they would like
to see the status quo maintained and do not want to offend
the sensibilities of customers who observe the Jewish
tradition.
A survey by Geocartographia shows that 56 percent of the
general population in Israel objects to opening supermarket
chains on Shabbos. Of these, only 37 percent object for
religious reasons. The survey also found that 61 percent of
the public would boycott a chain open on Shabbos.
Activists for the religious sector said they hope other
chains would follow the lead set by the three leading
supermarket chains.
