Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Iceland are calling on the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to tighten the rules that they say allow Aldi and Lidl to expand using “controlled land” property arrangements. The retailers want the CMA to widen the scope of the Groceries Market Investigation Controlled Land Order (Controlled Land Order), a measure designed to limit how major grocery operators can secure certain types of land and premises in ways that could affect competition.
The supermarkets argue that existing property-related rules create an advantage for Aldi and Lidl when opening or expanding stores in local markets. By asking the CMA to expand the order’s coverage, they are effectively seeking greater oversight of qualifying land transactions and store openings linked to the order.
The CMA has not indicated, in the reporting provided here, what changes it will make or whether it will accept the retailers’ request. The proposal is framed as a regulatory adjustment aimed at improving competitive conditions in grocery retail rather than a direct action against individual companies.
