Four sites to go in Midcounties Co-op takeover of Tuffins

The OFT will not refer Midcounties Co-op’s acquisition of Harry Tuffins to the Competition Commission after the society agreed to sell four sites.

Midcounties will sell the Harry Tuffins store in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, as well as either the Harry Tuffins or Midcounties stores in Craven Arms/Church Stretton in Shropshire and Lydney and Coleford in Gloucestershire.

The OFT said the purchasers had to be independent of the society and also have the “resources, expertise, incentive and intention to maintain the stores”.

It added that the divestments would remove competition concerns in the four local areas.