OFT Tucks into Groceries again
The OFT doesn’t seem to be able to leave the Supermarket giants alone lately! This week, we should see the publication of the final recommendations from the Competition Commission in to the Grocery Trade ( read supermarket chains), after the OFT referred the matter to the CC in 2006. Will an Ombudsman for the trade be recommended or not? That’s one of the big questions that will soon be answered. Then last week, almost in preparation for this one, we learn that the OFT has launched an investigation into cigarette and toiletries price fixing amongst the large supermarket chains and the cigarette manufacturers. At this rate,Tesco and the like will soon be developing a serious bunker mentality. Why is it ,they ask, we do everything we can to help consumers yet get all this criticism? Any suggested answers from anyone?