A detailed article published on Friday's (15 May) edition of Le Figaro has outlined many of the legal complexities of the Auchan-Système U alliance – what the publication refers to as the “big bang of [French] distribution” – which now must be approved by l’Autorité de la concurrence.
Though the amalgamation between the two French grocers has been happening gradually over the last number of months, with many of the particulars made known to the media, Le Figaro says that the French competition authority has yet to receive formal notification of the move.
The fairness of the retailers engaging in their joint venture is a matter, in the eyes of the relevant regulatory body within the European Union, to be decided by its French counterpoint, i.e., the matter is regarded by Brussels as a domestic one.
The newspaper suggests that l’Autorité de la concurrence should arrive at a decision on the alliance, which involves joint policies on negotiating with buyers, digital platforms, and distributive matters, by the beginning of 2016.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly.
