To the delight of Edeka, the EU Commission has dropped investigations into the Agecore and Coopernic purchasing alliances. The competition watchdog said there were insufficient reasons to continue the investigation.
The chairman of the board of directors of the Edeka Central Foundation
Supermarket giants like Edeka and Rewe have been building on such alliances for a long time. Last but not least, the alliances should strengthen their position in the price game with the manufacturers. The aim is to join forces with other chains and secure good conditions in international negotiations.
According to the EU Commission, such alliances can result in lower prices, greater variety or better quality of products for consumers. However, depending on the circumstances, such agreements could have the opposite effect and allow restrictions of competition resulting in higher prices or reduced supply.
