NEWS DIGEST
THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/
MFG ADDS SIX
ACQUISITIONS
AUK Investments business.
CMA INVESTIGATES ASDA SALE
The deals brings the total
THE PROPOSED £6.8BN TAKEOVER OF ASDA HAS HIT A SNAG AS
number of stations operated
CMA LAUNCHES AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEAL.
Motor Fuel Group has acquired six forecourts in the Lake District from the family-owned
by MFG to 911, maintaining its position as the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator.
B&M CLOSURE Discount retailer B&M will close its stores on New Year’s Day as a ‘thank you’ to staff for their hard work and commitment during an incredibly challenging year and to give staff a ‘well-deserved rest’. Retail union Usdaw has welcomed the news and, particularly in Scotland, is calling on all stores to close on 1 January.
REP WARNING
The proposed takeover of Asda by private equity firm TDR Capital and billionaire brothers that founded EG Group has run into problems with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s competition regulator, has launching an investigation into the £6.8bn acquisition. The CMA is investigating whether the deal would lead to a “substantial lessening of competition within any
market or markets in the UK for goods or services” and has invited comments by 22 December. The regulator launched the first phase of its investigation after the European Commission referred the deal. It echoes similar problems in the past when Asda’s proposed merger with Sainsbury’s fell through last year. The CMA expects to issue its verdict in February 2021.
Following recent reports of someone impersonating a representative of Imperial Tobacco and asking to go behind the counter, the company has urged retailers to be vigilant and to ask for identification for any reps visiting their store that they do not recognise.
SCOTMID RAISES £300K FOR STROKE SURVIVORS Staff, customers and members of Scotmid Co-operative have raised a £300,000 to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives, survive and thrive. A one year partnership, which was extended due to the Covid pandemic, raised funds for services provided by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke and England’s Different Strokes. Thanks to Scotmid’s support, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland can provide six months of support for 1,000 stroke survivors in Scotland’s communities, giving them the vital help and support that they need when they need it most.
6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 34 / WEDNESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2020
