Germany’s competition authority the Bundeskartellamt has cleared retailer Edeka’s takeover of SPAR Handels AG and the discounter Netto Sued, Edeka said in a statement.


Edeka chairman Alfons Frenk welcomed the decision which he said would strengthen the company’s competition position in food retailing.


Delivery to Spar shops would be integrated into Edeka’s seven regional companies over the coming months it said.


Netto Sued will operate as a separate company, with plans to add a further hundred branches a year to the current 1,000.