MPs to question store bosses over impact of giant retail merger bid

THE CHIEF executives of Asda and Sainsbury’s will be questioned by MPs over the impact of the proposed merger of the two supermarket giants.

The firms announced in April that they wanted to create a supermarket titan bigger than Tesco with revenues of £51 billion and a network of 2,800 Sainsbury’s, Asda and Argos stores.

It was announced today that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a one-off evidence session focusing on the reasons behind the merger and its potential impact.

The committee, which includes Keighley MP John Grogan, will hear from Leeds-based Asda’s chief executive officer Roger Burnley and sustainable business director Chris Brown on June 20, as well as Sainsbury’s chief executive officer Mike Coupe and Judith Batchelar, Sainsbury’s brand.

Neil Parish MP, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said: “Grocery retailers do not have a great record of treating their suppliers well, and some of them are cautious about the proposed Sainsbury’s and Asda merger.

“My committee is holding this session to investigate how the biggest potential shake-up of the grocery market in recent years could affect British farmers and suppliers, as well as consumers.”

The proposals for a combined business will be subject to massive regulatory scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Commission with concerns raised that Asda may be required to dispose of some of its stores in order to meet the competition threshold. director of