Savills has been canned by supermarket giant ASDA following a clash of opinions at the BCSC conference in Manchester last month.
The agency has been disinstructed from all ASDA’s planning advisory work and will also lose a contract, won in August, to manage the retail chain’s 8m sq ft logistics network.
A joint statement from ASDA and Savills said: “Due to a recent conflict of interest between Savills and ASDA Retail Development, a decision has been taken by ASDA to review the relationship and services that Savills provides.”
The spat concerns comments made by Savills’ director of retail planning, Jeremy Hinds, at the shopping centre body’s November conference, about the Competition Commission’s proposals to introduce a competition test for supermarket operators.
Savills attacked the commission’s recommendations to improve competition in the groceries market.
Hinds said: “The requirement for a test is disproportionate to the so-called harm identified by the commission. In short, it appears that it is proposing an unnecessary burden on retail investment at a time when the economy needs fewer, not more, barriers in this area.”
However, ASDA supports the introduction of the competition test, which it described as “a proportionate measure that will assist the UK economy to further embed the foundations for further competition and choice for consumers”.
Another agent said: “Responsible property advisers should be able to conduct independent research such as this. They cannot be seen to be biased towards any client.”
It is believed that ASDA has now shifted its Savills contracts to other advisers, including Drivers Jonas.
