UK: Tesco facing competition fines after Guardian exposé

After UK newspaper the Guardian revealed supermarket giant Tesco had failed to comply with a Competition Commission order made four years ago, reports say the company is facing possible fines.

The Commission ruled in 2010 that Tesco violated competition rules by unfairly controlling how some of its land was developed after it was sold. The company was found to use restricted penalties, possibly to bar rivals from building their own competing stores on the land.

In 2010, the Commission ordered Tesco to end clauses that would “prevent, restrict or distort competition” when selling land plots.

But recent reports by The Guardian found Tesco had failed to comply with that agreement in Diss, Norfolk, regarding land sold by the company in 2005.

The Competition and Markets Authority, which absorbed the Competition Commission earlier this year, declined to comment on the matter. Law, however, says that failure to comply with a competition ruling could mean fines and possible civil proceedings, according to reports.

Full content: The Guardian

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