The Competition Commission has said the forced sell-off of a Tesco-owned supermarket this week did not make it more likely that the groceries inquiry would result in a large-scale divestment of stores.

On Wednesday, the commission ruled that Tesco had to sell the store in Slough, acquired from the Co-operative Group in 2003, on the grounds that its continued ownership would harm local competition.

Tesco has a 100,000 sq ft Tesco Extra nearby and the commission said it wanted another retailer to open on the site. Since acquiring the plot, Tesco has demolished the former Co-op store and begun work on a four-unit retail development. This will now have to be sold, and the commission has appointed a trustee to oversee the process.

Forced divestment of stores is one of the remedies the commission is considering as part of its groceries market inquiry. But it insisted the Slough case was an exception and would have no bearing on its final report, due next spring.

"I wouldn't encourage people to draw conclusions from the decision," said a spokesman.

"This is about selling off an acquired site. It's different to owning stores in an area where there is not enough competition. In terms of the market enquiry as a whole, store divestment is the last resort."

However, competition lawyer Guy Lougher, of Pinsent Masons, said the Slough case was a warning to retailers of what the Competition Commission was capable.

"It's an indicator of the breadth of powers the commission has and also an indication that where it feels there is something wrong it won't shirk from taking a stance that might seem harsh," he said.

The OFT referred the acquisition to the commission in 2004, but suspended action when Tesco agreed to sell the site to a competing retailer. A suitable buyer could not be found and the commission stepped in.

Tesco said it was pleased the matter was concluded.

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