Motorway catering: the Autorité imposes conditions on the acquisition of the Sirestco Group by the Areas Group

On 15 May 2023, the Areas Group notified the Autorité de la concurrence of a proposed merger leading to the acquisition of sole control of Sirestco.

The Autorité has identified risks of harm to competition in several markets for the provision of motorway catering services. On the A5 and A19 motorways, the Areas Group would have had a market share in excess of 50% following the merger, which would have led to a risk of price rises and a reduction in the quality of the offer for consumers.

To resolve these competitive risks, the Areas Group has made commitments involving, on the one hand, divesting the sub-concession contract for the catering and food retail activities of the specialist shop at the Troyes-Fresnoy service station on the A5 motorway, and, on the other, transferring the lease management contract for the operation of the "Casino Everyday" shop and entering into a third-party operating contract for catering activities at the Loiret service station on the A19 motorway.