UK regulator proposes Lidl, Aldi should follow same land rules as supermarkets
Competition Authority Targets Fairness in Supermarket Land Agreements
Regulator's Provisional Decision on Discount Chains
Aug 7 (Reuters) - British competition regulator on Friday said it had provisionally decided that discount grocery chains Aldi and Lidl should be covered by the same land agreement rules as other UK supermarkets to ensure more choice for customers.
Purpose of the Proposed Rule
The proposed rule is designed to stop Aldi and Lidl from blocking rival supermarkets to open stores nearby through restrictive covenants and exclusivity arrangements, the Competition and Markets Authority said.
Current Scope of Land Agreement Rules
The rule currently applies, among others, to Asda, Co-operative, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose which along with Lidl and Aldi are among the top ten grocers in the UK.
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
