New supermarket rule introduced for 2,050 Aldi and Lidl stores across the UK
Aldi and Lidl will no longer be able to block rival supermarket openings after becoming subject to the same rules as major grocers. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decided that Aldi, Lidl GB and Lidl NI will be designated as ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs), which the UK's main supermarkets, Asda, Co‑op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, have been bound to since 2010.
TL;DR
- Aldi and Lidl are now designated as 'Large Grocery Retailers' (LGRs) in the UK.
- This designation means they can no longer use land agreements to block rival supermarket openings.
- The rules applied to Aldi and Lidl are now the same as those binding major UK grocers since 2010.
- The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) made the decision to increase shopper choice and competition.
- Aldi and Lidl have seen rapid expansion and now rank among the top five UK food retailers.
- Morrisons, Waitrose, and Iceland supported the CMA's proposal for this designation.