The head offices of at least two of the UK’s big four supermarkets were “raided” this week, as an investigation into grocery price fixing stepped up.
The big four supermarket chains have all confirmed in the last 24 hours that they received either visits or requests for information from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which is reportedly carrying out its biggest ever inquiry.
Today’s Sunday Telegraph reported that Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have been targeted, along with other supermarket chains and suppliers, and the probe is also looking at health and beauty products.
Consumer watchdog the OFT is thought to have taken possession of hundreds of emails between retailers and their suppliers, some of which may also have been visited, during "surprise raids" on Thursday.
Although the OFT declined to comment, the supermarket chains confirmed that the speculation is on the mark.
Tesco said: "We understand that the OFT has asked for information from a wide range of suppliers and retailers. We are working with them to provide what they require.
"At Tesco we are confident that we always act in the interest of consumers. Indeed over the last 10 years we have saved the average family almost £5,000 as a result of our investment in price."
An Asda spokesman said: "They came to our offices. They requested a range of information, and we were happy to assist."
Morrisons’ spokesperson said: "I can confirm that they did visit us - along with many others - and we will be co-operating with them."
And a spokeswoman for Sainsbury's said: "We are co-operating with the OFT. We have been asked for some information and we don't have any further knowledge of what their concerns are."
According to the Sunday Times, the inquiry is “the biggest inquiry in the history of the OFT”, with around 100 investigators and lawyers involved.
The OFT has taken a hard line on anticompetitive practices in recent years. In the past two weeks alone the OFT had already accused tobacco companies and several major retailers of colluding on cigarette prices. The office can give warnings or orders, but also has the power to take legal actions or impose financial penalties. Any firm found guilty of price collusion could be fined as much as 10 per cent of sales turnover of the product involved, under the Competition Act. Under the 2002 Enterprise Act, cartel-like behaviour could also carry a jail term of up to five years for directors or senior executives involved.
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