On first appearances, it is hard to see how Tesco's decision to acquire T&S Stores could possibly be referred by the OFT for further investigation. No matter what concerns are raised by suppliers and other retailers, the deal does not take Tesco through the 25% market share threshold usually needed to worry the OFT.
So, end of story? Perhaps. But the competition bodies in this country are sometimes full of surprises. Don't forget: there was no hard evidence to really justify the OFT's decision a few years back to refer the supermarket industry to the Competition Commission for an inquiry into the profitability of the sector. Nevertheless, it did.
Now, I accept the two cases are completely different. But the OFT's decision about supermarket profitability was taken against a backdrop of growing public unease about the industry.
And what has become abundantly clear this week is that opposition to the Tesco bid for T&S is mounting.
Suppliers, retailers and wholesalers are asking the OFT how Tesco can buy another 1% of market share without being challenged  particularly in light of the fact there's a code of practice now in place supposedly governing the buying power of the big chains.
But opposition to the deal is coming in other forms, notably articles in heavyweight newspapers not normally known for being too worried about the needs of small suppliers or independent retailers.
In addition, we also have Budgens' bold statement this week that it is now taking legal advice on how best to "make a stand" against Tesco's plan. Don't dismiss this out of hand. Budgens' new owner Musgrave has been pretty good at using every tactic in the book  and plenty which are not  to protect the interests of small retailers in the Irish Republic. Just ask Tesco about that: it has often found itself on the receiving end.
"I have been surprised that people haven't been jumping around about this more," Musgrave UK executive chairman Eoin McGettigan told us this week. Well, Eoin, they are now. This particular story hasn't ended just yet.
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So, end of story? Perhaps. But the competition bodies in this country are sometimes full of surprises. Don't forget: there was no hard evidence to really justify the OFT's decision a few years back to refer the supermarket industry to the Competition Commission for an inquiry into the profitability of the sector. Nevertheless, it did.
Now, I accept the two cases are completely different. But the OFT's decision about supermarket profitability was taken against a backdrop of growing public unease about the industry.
And what has become abundantly clear this week is that opposition to the Tesco bid for T&S is mounting.
Suppliers, retailers and wholesalers are asking the OFT how Tesco can buy another 1% of market share without being challenged  particularly in light of the fact there's a code of practice now in place supposedly governing the buying power of the big chains.
But opposition to the deal is coming in other forms, notably articles in heavyweight newspapers not normally known for being too worried about the needs of small suppliers or independent retailers.
In addition, we also have Budgens' bold statement this week that it is now taking legal advice on how best to "make a stand" against Tesco's plan. Don't dismiss this out of hand. Budgens' new owner Musgrave has been pretty good at using every tactic in the book  and plenty which are not  to protect the interests of small retailers in the Irish Republic. Just ask Tesco about that: it has often found itself on the receiving end.
"I have been surprised that people haven't been jumping around about this more," Musgrave UK executive chairman Eoin McGettigan told us this week. Well, Eoin, they are now. This particular story hasn't ended just yet.
{{COMMENT & LETTERS }}
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