The market watchdog said Waitrose had admitted to preventing rivals from opening supermarkets in locations for nearly a decade.
During a 2010 to 2019 investigation into supermarket operations, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that Waitrose conspired with landlords to prevent competing firms from opening stores. .
According to the CMA, the method that Waitrose used at seven locations including Notting Hill Gate, Swindon and Bromsgrove, violated competition law.
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In response to the CMA’s findings, Waitrose agreed to rewrite its land agreements to prevent its rivals from opening stores nearby.
“It is disappointing that Waitrose has acted against the interests of shoppers, even though these rules have been in place for over 10 years,” said Adam Land, senior director of remedies at CMA , said.
He added: “Families across the UK are facing a rising cost of living.
“Preventing other supermarkets from opening new stores can keep people from saving on their weekly shopping expenses.”
Tesco is also accused of stifling competition in the grocery market in 2020 through similar efforts.
The CMA said it first approached the country’s largest supermarket chain about the matter in 2018 after discovering evidence that prevented homeowners from leaving properties to rivals.
It did this through its own land deals, although in a statement Tesco blamed “administrative error”.
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The CMA said Tesco discovered 23 grocery market order violations in 2010 when it was asked to review its portfolio.
“We will continue to act when our rules are broken, and we have asked all supermarkets to show us their land transactions in order,” he said. Land said.
