Waitrose calls for referral of Safeway bids

Waitrose will call for all bids for Safeway to be referred to the Competition Commission. It will write to the Office of Fair Trading today, arguing consolidation could reduce consumer choice. It is also concerned about any disposals of outlets by the winner of the battle and it is worried about a carve-up between the big operators. Marks & Spencer has approached ASDA about buying some stores if it succeeds with a bid. The Transport and General Workers Union has given its support to a possible bid from Sainsbury’s for the chain. References: Financial Times 10/02/03 page 24, page 25 (Weekend Press Briefing), The Times 10/02/03 page 21, page 22 (Need to know), The Daily Telegraph 10/02/03 page 28 (The City Checklist), The Guardian 10/02/03