CMA ‘likely’ to demand store disposals, Sainsbury’s boss tells MPs

Sainsbury’s chief executive has admitted that the UK’s competition watchdog will probably demand store disposals in order for the supermarket’s merger with Asda to be approved, as he was grilled by a committee of MPs on the details of the deal. Mike Coupe told the environment, food and rural affairs committee that there were “less than 100 but probably more than 50” towns and cities in the country with just a Sainsbury’s and Asda. When asked if he accepted the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) might demand stores are sold off to rivals to allay fears that the £15bn merger would lead to less choice for consumers, Coupe replied “I think it is likely”. Elsewhere there are report of the bruising session in front of the Commons’ environment,food and rural affairs committee, during which the bosses of J Sainsbury and Asda were accused of lying to MPs, “talking baloney”, providing “Mickey Mouse” figures and pursuing a merger that could “cut the throats” of suppliers. Click here for the full Telegraph article (£) Click here for the full Times article (£) Click here for the full Telegraph article Click here for the full Guardian article