The NFU has welcomed the recognition from the CMA to explore the impacts this proposed merger may have on the supply chain.
In summary, the NFU submission demonstrated that the proposed new entity may further consolidate the grocery supply chain in order to find cost and efficiency gains as a means to deliver the price savings for consumers.
The NFU raised the following areas of concern:
- The potential further consolidation of the grocery supply chain may impact availability and choice of product to consumers.
- The risk of abusive market power by the proposed new entity which could make unreasonable demands on suppliers and transfer excessive risks and unexpected costs on to primary producers. This in turn damages their ability to innovate and invest.
- The effect on competition will outweigh any consumer benefit derived through lower prices.
NFU members
Read the NFU briefing following the CMA announcement to block this merger 25.4.19
Read the NFU's full analysis submitted in March 2019- you will be asked to log in.
You can also read the letters the NFU has sent to the CMA:
How to log in: Use your membership number or the email address associated with your membership. If you've forgotten your password, use this form to reset it or contact NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.
A further consolidation of the grocery supply chain could have the potential to impact product availability and choice for consumers in the long term, as product quality and innovation becomes less of a priority for agri-food businesses and primary producers.
Our evidence demonstrates that as business margins are continuously squeezed, the willingness to differentiate products reduces.
Further to this, our evidence also highlights the risk of abusive market behaviours as a result of an increase in buying power by the new entity. In our members' view, increased buying power could easily result in unreasonable demands on suppliers, in turn transferring excessive risk and unexpected costs onto primary producers. Coupled with the squeeze of margins, this could contribute to businesses ability to innovate and invest.
The NFU wishes to see a fair, innovative and sustainable retail environment that allows all areas of the supply chain to deliver for consumers and businesses alike.