BUNDESKARTELLAMT HAS COMPETITION CONCERNS REGARDING THE TAKEOVER OF 28 REAL STORES BY EDEKA

13 February 2021

The Bundeskartellamt (“Authority”) announced, on Wednesday, that they have been examining plans by the Edeka group to acquire up to 72 Real stores from SCP Retail S.àr.l. Based on its preliminary assessment, the authority has competition concerns regarding 28 of these stores. 

In merger control proceedings in the food retail sector, the Authority has to assess

(i) the competition effects of a planned merger for both consumers (sales side), and

(ii) the competition effects of food manufacturers and suppliers (procurement side) as well as for competing retailers.

On the sales side : the Authority is analysing the competitive conditions in the sale of food to consumers in the actual regional catchment areas of the 72 Real stores relevant in this case. Having carried out a preliminary assessment and a thorough analysis of the acquisition project, the Bundeskartellamt believes that there is a risk of a significant impediment to effective competition in the regional sales markets of 28 of these stores resulting from the acquisition of the Real stores in these areas by the Edeka group.

On the procurement side : the Authority has analysed the purchase of food by retailers from food manufacturers and suppliers. Based on its preliminary assessment the Bundeskartellamt also has competition concerns about the acquisition project with regard to the vertical relationship to suppliers and the horizontal relationship to competitors in the food retail sector. SCP is offering to sell some of the Real stores to medium-sized food retailers in order to dispel the competition concerns on the procurement side, 


The deadline for final decision is 22 March 2021.

You can reach the announcement here.

Should you have any queries and/or remarks, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr