THE acquisition of the Quinnswroth/Crazy Prices chain by Tesco heralds a new era, according to a leading estate agent. Aidan O'Hogan, managing director of Hamilton Osborne King, forecast a number of major changes in the supermarket and grocery trade when he addressed the annual conference of the Institute of Certified Accountants last week. The proposed joint venture by Wellworths and Safeway will see them entering the southern market and the presence of Sainsburys trading successfully across the Border indicates that within a relatively short timescale, these mega-operators will be competing for a market share here. Mr O'Hogan said the big supermarket chains would follow the UK trend and opt for large, high-profile stores on five to seven-acre, stand-alone sites on the edge of town. With Tesco under pressure to improve the profitability of Quinnsworth, "this must be a direction which they will examine".