Shoprite bid for Massmart food business goes before Competition Tribunal today

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (04 September 2022) - The Competition Tribunal will today hear submissions relating to the proposed large merger wherein Shoprite Supermarkets (Pty) Ltd intends to acquire the following from Massmart Holdings Limited:
* 56 retail supermarket stores and 43 retail liquor stores operated under the brand names Rhino Cash & Carry, Rhino Liquors, Cambridge Food and Cambridge Food Liquor;
* 10 wholesale (Cash and Carry) stores;
* 2 wholesale liquor stores; and
* Massfresh, with two entities, a meat processing plant facility and Fruitspot (comprising 3 processing facilities in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg) (collectively the “target businesses”).
      The target businesses are active in the retail and wholesale trade of grocery, liquor and associated items and are wholly owned and controlled by Massmart. Massmart is, in turn, controlled by Walmart Inc.
      The Competition Commission, which investigates large mergers before referring such to the Tribunal for a decision, has recommended that the proposed transaction be approved subject to a set of conditions, including various public interest conditions.
      During the three-day merger hearing, the Tribunal will hear and consider submissions from the Commission, the merger parties, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (“the dtic”) and two intervenors, being Pick n Pay and Spar.
      Those wishing to follow the online proceedings are requested to contact the Tribunal’s Communications Officer (contact details below) for the online hearing link: Gillian de Gouveia, Communications Officer, on behalf of the Competition Tribunal of South Africa. Tel: +27 (0) 12 394 1383; Cell: +27 (0) 82 410 1195; E-Mail: GillianD@comptrib.co.za; Twitter: @comptrib