Overview
- On Thursday the Bundeskartellamt issued a provisional decision saying Edeka would likely not be allowed to take over all contested Tegut outlets because the deal would give it too much local market power in several regions.
- The authority identified 38 Tegut stores as competitively problematic, extended the main review deadline to 23 September, and accepted Edeka’s offer to drop nine of those 38 sites as a first concession.
- Companies estimate that removing the 38 stores from Edeka’s package would put about 1,100 jobs at risk and could reduce grocery access in small towns and rural areas where many of the flagged stores are located.
- Other bidders remain in play: Tante Enso already received clearance for 36 Tegut supermarkets and Rewe has expressed interest in up to 40 outlets, leaving the transaction likely to be reshaped if regulators insist on divestments.
- Political figures including Hesse’s economy minister Kaweh Mansoori and former federal minister Sigmar Gabriel have urged a federal ministerial decision to weigh public-interest factors such as jobs and local supply against competition concerns, a legal route used in prior cases.