Green light under condition to the the acquisition of 554 Leader Price stores and 2 Casino stores by Aldi

On 5 October 2020, Aldi notified the Autorité de la concurrence of its plans to acquire assets owned by the Casino Group. These assets include 54 Leader Price stores (of nearly 640 stores under the brand in mainland France) and 2 Casino stores.

Given that the share of the French market owned by Aldi and Leader Price combined is relatively small, the Autorité considered that the transaction was unlikely to significantly increase Aldi's purchasing power with respect to suppliers.

As a result of its analysis, the Autorité raised however, a risk to competition in the catchment areas of the Leader Price stores in Argentière-la-Bessée (05), Bar-sur-Seine (10), Bort-les-Orgues (19), Brassac-les-Mines (63), Lanton (33), Marle (02), Rambervillers (88), Saint-Félix (74) and Sézanne (51).

To resolve these competition concerns, Aldi has committed to sell nine stores.