The UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will not be referring Tesco’s acquisition of five stores from supermarket operator Somerfield to the Competition Commission.

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The OFT said that based on the information currently available to it, it would not be referring the deal to the commission under the provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002. 
 
The stores concerned are in Thurso, Bedlington, Little Lever, Ramsbottom and North Hykeham.


Earlier this week, Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, reported that sales growth had accelerated during the third quarter.


Tesco said sales had grown by 11.8% during the three months to 24 November, outstripping first-half growth of 9.2%.

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