Tesco has today (30 June) launched a legal challenge to part of the UK’s Competition Commission’s inquiry into the country’s grocery sector.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The retail giant has lodged its application with the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), to challenge the Commission’s proposal to introduce a “competition assessment” into the UK planning system.
Tesco contends that the competition test does not remedy the adverse effect on competition identified by the Commission.
Tesco said the competition test “would not address the planning barrier identified” but would “introduce another barrier into the planning process”, thereby increasing delays and costs, and possibly jeopardising long-term regeneration schemes.
Commenting on the appeal, corporate and legal affairs director Lucy Neville-Rolfe said: “We are pleased that once again, the Commission has found that the groceries sector is broadly competitive and delivers a good deal for customers. We are appealing on just one aspect of the final report and remedies.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataA spokesperson for the Competition Commission told just-food: “We are going to defend our case but we cannot comment on any technicalities at this stage. At the moment, Tesco [is] the only retailer to have gone on record that they have appealed to the CAT.”
The report, which was announced in April, marks the conclusion of a two-year investigation into the UK’s supermarket sector and was designed to curb the power of the largest supermarkets and improve choice for consumers.
