Sainsbury’s and Asda offer to sell up to 150 stores to address CMA concerns over £12bn merger

Sainsbury’s and Leeds-based Asda have offered to sell up to 150 stores as part of efforts to address competition concerns over their £12bn merger, and claimed that shoppers would be deprived of lower prices should it be blocked.
Asda in Leeds. Pic: James HardistyAsda in Leeds. Pic: James Hardisty
Asda in Leeds. Pic: James Hardisty

The supermarkets described the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) provisional findings into the merger, which warned the deal could be blocked unless they sell off significant stores or even one of the brands, as “prohibition in all but name”.

They also put forward their own remedies to allay antitrust concerns, offering to sell between 125 and 150 supermarkets and 32 petrol forecourts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It represents a radical adjustment to the CMA’s calculation, which found 629 areas where there could be a substantial reduction in competition as a result of the tie-up, and a further 290 areas where online competition could be reduced.

The supermarkets’ submission said that the CMA’s remedy proposal is “impossible to implement”.

Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe and Asda chief executive Roger Burnley added: “We have asked the CMA to correct significant errors in its provisional findings.

“Its analysis fundamentally misunderstands how people shop today as well as ignores the intensity of competition and the dynamism of the UK grocery market, which evolves on an almost weekly basis.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sainsbury’s believes there are serious flaws with the competition watchdog’s report, and argues the tie-up will deliver £1bn in savings for shoppers, equating to a 10 per cent cut on everyday items.

Sainsbury’s has said the CMA’s report contains “significant errors”, both legal and economic.

The chief executives added: “We have committed to £1bn of lower prices for customers within three years of our businesses merging and proposed a remedy package that would satisfy any reasonable concerns.

“We urge the CMA to properly reflect the evidence so that we can deliver savings for customers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We regret the uncertainty this process causes for our colleagues and want to reassure them that no stores would close because of this merger, with any divested stores run by a credible third party.”

The CMA is expected to publish Sainsbury’s and Asda’s responses to its provisional findings imminently, and the antitrust body’s final report is expected by April 30.

Related topics: