The UK Office of Fair Trading said today (29 July) it is reviewing the Co-operative Group’s GBP1.57bn (US$3.2bn) acquisition of fellow UK supermarket chain Somerfield.

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The Co-op sealed the takeover earlier this month, bringing an end to months of talks between the two sides and paving the way for the creation of the UK’s fifth-largest food retailer.


The combined business will run around 3,000 stores and command about 8% of UK grocery sales.


Industry players are invited to lodge their comments on the review by 11 August.

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