CMA Update re Asda / Arthur (Co-op) supermarket petrol station merger

Today, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its investigation into Asda’s purchase of 132 petrol stations and attached grocery stores from the Co-op.

The CMA’s investigation focused on a small number of local areas in which Asda and the Co-op sites that it acquired, compete to provide fuel or groceries to customers. The CMA found that the deal raises competition concerns in 13 locations across the UK which could result in higher prices and/or lower quality services because of reduced competition.

On 21 March 2023, in response to these concerns, Asda made offers to the CMA, which include selling 13 petrol filling stations with attached grocery stores. Today, the CMA announced that it considers there are reasonable grounds for believing that the offer, or a modified version of it, might be acceptable.

These offers are provisional, and the CMA now has until 30 May 2023 to consider them and decide if they will accept Asda’s offer.

For further information, the Asda/Arthur (Co-op) case page provide the deadlines and details of the next steps.