Sainsbury’s and Asda could be forced to sell 245 stores if £15bn merger completes

Sainsbury’s and Asda will be forced to sell at least 73 supermarkets and could be made to dispose of as many as 245 across the UK if their proposed merger goes ahead, according to new research. The supermarkets announced they were in talks about a potential £15bn tie-up at the end of April, and at the time, Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe said the deal would not result in any job cuts or store closures. However, the transaction is facing scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority, which could force the combined group to sell stores in areas where competition is at risk. Click here for the full Independent article