New twist in retail turf wars

Legal eagles: Lawyers for the Competition Authority and Payless at yesterday's appeal PIS: TSELE TSEBETSAME
Legal eagles: Lawyers for the Competition Authority and Payless at yesterday's appeal PIS: TSELE TSEBETSAME

The raging turf wars in the mid-tier Fast Moving Consumer Goods market came to the fore this week, when Payless Supermarket appealed a Competition Authority decision rejecting its continued membership of the Choppies Buying Group. Payless says leaving the Buying Group will lead to its immediate closure and loss of 500 jobs. The Competition Authority doesn't buy this.

Payless says should the Competition Authority enforce 30 November 2014 the deadline for it to have extricated itself from the Choppies Buying Group, it would be forced to shut down and throw 500 jobs onto the street.

Payless, the mid-tier FMCG group which in the 1970s was the sole grocery store in the dusty Main Mall, says its continued existence has for sometime been largely dependent on its membership of the Choppies Buying Group.

Editor's Comment
Stakeholders must step up veggie supply

The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up