The publication of the inquiry into the UK grocery sector has been pushed back a month, the Competition Commission told just-food today (11 January).
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The report is now set for publication in April, a month later than had been initially forecast.
The Commission published its preliminary findings into the UK grocery sector in October and spokesperson told just-food that the sheer weight of responses had delayed the publication of the full report.
“We have a substantial amount of evidence coming in and it needs to be processed,” the spokesperson said.
The deadline for responses and submissions has been extended to 1 March.
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By GlobalDataThe statutory deadline for publication of the inquiry stands at 8 May, a date that cannot be changed, the spokesperson said.
In October, the Commission’s preliminary findings found that competition must be improved in the UK grocery sector and suppliers need to be better protected.
The study that, in most areas of the market, supermarkets are delivering a “good deal for consumers” but said there is a lack of competition in certain markets.
The Commission has recommended changing UK planning laws or forcing retailers to sell off land that they own to encourage greater competition in certain parts of the country. It has also proposed changing the code of practice for the treatment of suppliers.
It has also expressed concern that retailers can pass on costs to consumers through practices including retrospective changes to contracts.
