#federal-court

Canada's Competition Bureau is escalating its investigation into the country's largest grocery retailers—Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro—over their use of restrictive property controls. The Bureau suspects these 'restrictive covenants' are being used to stifle competition by preventing rival grocers from opening stores in certain locations, potentially leading to higher food prices and fewer choices for consumers. A recent Federal Court order now compels the companies to produce documents related to these practices, marking a critical step in a probe that could reshape the landscape of Canadian retail real estate.

Canada's Competition Bureau has obtained a Federal Court order compelling major grocers Empire and Loblaw to produce documents for its investigation into anti-competitive practices. The probe focuses on "property controls," or restrictive covenants in lease agreements, that may be used to block rival supermarkets from opening nearby. This action marks a significant escalation in the Bureau's efforts to scrutinize the highly concentrated grocery sector amid persistent food inflation. The investigation aims to determine if these land-use restrictions unlawfully stifle competition, limit consumer choice, and contribute to higher food prices for Canadians.

Canada's Competition Bureau has secured a Federal Court order compelling major grocery chains, including Loblaw and Sobeys, to provide records related to their use of restrictive land controls. This legal victory is a critical step in the Bureau's ongoing investigation into anti-competitive practices within the grocery sector. The probe examines whether these 'property controls,' which can block rival stores from opening nearby, are unlawfully stifling competition and contributing to high food prices. The outcome could reshape the grocery landscape and offer relief to Canadian consumers facing affordability challenges.

The Competition Bureau of Canada has obtained a Federal Court order compelling Loblaw, Metro, and Sobeys' parent company, Empire, to produce documents for an investigation into their use of property controls. The probe examines whether these grocery giants use restrictive covenants and exclusivity clauses in lease agreements to stifle competition by preventing rival grocers from opening stores in certain locations. This legal step marks a significant escalation in the Bureau's efforts to address concerns about limited competition and high food prices in Canada's highly concentrated grocery market.

The Competition Bureau of Canada has obtained a Federal Court order compelling Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Sobeys Inc. to produce records related to their use of property controls. This development marks a significant escalation in the Bureau's investigation into anti-competitive practices within the Canadian grocery sector. The probe focuses on restrictive covenants in lease agreements that may be used to block rival grocers from opening nearby, potentially limiting consumer choice and contributing to higher food prices. The court order forces the companies to provide crucial information for the ongoing inquiry.

The Competition Bureau of Canada has secured court orders compelling major grocery retailers, including Loblaw and Sobeys, to produce documents for an investigation into their use of property controls. The probe examines how restrictive covenants in lease agreements may be used to stifle competition by preventing rival grocers from opening nearby. This action, following the companies' alleged failure to cooperate fully, marks a significant escalation in the Bureau's efforts to address concerns about market concentration and its impact on food prices and consumer choice in Canada's highly consolidated grocery sector.

Canada's Competition Bureau is intensifying its market study into the grocery sector, focusing on the anti-competitive use of property controls by major chains. The federal watchdog has sought court orders to compel leading grocers, including Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro, to produce documents related to restrictive covenants in leasing agreements. These clauses can prevent rival supermarkets from opening in the same shopping centres or nearby locations. This escalation signals the Bureau's commitment to addressing practices that may be limiting consumer choice and contributing to high food prices across the country.