Britain’s €138 billion grocery sector faces anti-competitive inquiry

A FULL-BLOWN inquiry into Britain’s £95 billion (€138.8bn) grocery sector was confirmed yesterday after fears of anti-competitive practices sparked a massive public response.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) referred the sector to the Competition Commission because evidence suggested some chains were abusing their size by pricing products below cost.

It also believed that supermarkets were using large ‘land banks’ to stop rival retailers opening new outlets and said its concerns were shared by the bulk of the 1,200 consumers and businesses who responded to its initial report in March.