The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a draft decision to allow some of the new owners of Franklin#;s grocery outlets to run joint promotions.
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The ACCC deemed that promotions run by new Australian supermarket sector entrants Pick ‘N Pay, Action and other independents would not be anti-competitive and would actually benefit consumers through discounted product lines. The application for authorisation for such joint promotions was made in June this year, in order to facilitate the managed sell-down of the beleaguered Franklin#;s chain to a range of buyers.
Allan Fels, chairman of the competition watchdog, commented: “Such promotions will also assist the new businesses to consolidate during the transfer from Franklins to new ownership.
“This, in turn, will result in greater competition in the eastern states for the major chains such as Woolworths and Coles.”
Authorisation for such promotion has been granted until 1 April 2002 or the date the last Franklin#;s outlet is closed or sold, whichever occurs earliest.
