Asda deny Safeway bid off track

SUPERMARKET chain Asda has dismissed reports that its attempt to bid for takeover target Safeway could be in jeopardy.

The group, owned by US store giant Wal-Mart, has called for a "special meeting" with the Competition Commission amid fears that it plans to block a potential bid, the Financial Mail on Sunday reported yesterday.

Asda yesterday confirmed that it had asked for an extra meeting with the commission, but said the meeting was "a perfectly normal part of the process" and said the request was made because previous meetings had not given it enough time to cover all the issues it wanted to discuss.