Tesco spent nearly £1.4m on legal fees in its failed attempt to overturn the Competition Commission’s recommendation of a new test whereby local planners would have to take into account the variety of supermarket operators in an area before giving the green light for a new outlet.
A ruling by the Competition Appeal Tribunal said the fees were “very high” and liable to cause “a sharp intake of breath”.
The figures were included in the document the tribunal released on the supermarket group’s application for costs. It awarded Tesco just £312,000, arguing the Competition Commission had acted in the public interest.
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