Waitrose has been forced to rewrite several property deals after being found in breach of competition rules designed to prevent supermarkets from blocking rivals from opening nearby.
The Competition and Markets Authority introduced regulations in 2010 banning grocers from using restrictive covenants in land sales preventing new owners from letting the site to a rival, or rolling over exclusive agreements that block competitors from entering.
Waitrose has admitted to seven breaches of the competition rules between 2010 and 2019, in locations including Bromsgrove, Swindon and Chester.
