28 Apr 2008


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New OFT probe into supermarket “price fixing”

Sainsbury's

Tesco

Morrisons

Asda

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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is investigating the Big Four UK supermarkets over alleged price fixing on groceries and health & beauty products, it has emerged.

Groceries

News of the probe comes just days after the OFT said it was looking into alleged collusion over the pricing of tobacco products.

In its latest investigation, OFT inspectors are understood to have swooped on the head offices of Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons last Thursday morning.

Suppliers, including Procter & Gamble (P&G), were also visited.

A Tesco spokesperson 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.”

A spokesperson for Asda said: "We can confirm that the OFT visited us and requested a range of information and we were happy to assist with this."

A P&G spokesperson said: "We can confirm that P&G were visited by the OFT on Thursday.

"Consistent with our principles we are fully cooperating with their inquiries. We do not have any additional information to share at this stage save to say that it is P&G's policy to fully abide by the spirit and letter of the law."

The OFT declined to comment.

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