The Bundeskartellamt has approved (18 November) Kaufland Dienstleistung GmbH & Co. KG’s acquisition of four Globus stores located in Bedburg, Chemnitz, Essen, and Wesel, following extensive market investigations. However, Kaufland’s plan to acquire a store in Neubrandenburg was abandoned after the authority raised competition concerns in its preliminary antitrust assessment.
Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive choices for consumers: “In Bedburg, Chemnitz, Essen, and Wesel, we found sufficient competitive pressure from other retailers like REWE, EDEKA, and ALDI. However, in Neubrandenburg, the proposed merger would have significantly reduced competition.”
Kaufland, part of the Schwarz Group, operates 770 stores in Germany and over 1,500 across Europe, making it the continent’s largest food retailer with a turnover of approximately €148 billion. Globus, which operates 65 food retail stores in Germany, had acquired the stores in question—former Real locations—as part of earlier antitrust remedies.
The Bundeskartellamt’s decision highlights regional variations in market dynamics. In Neubrandenburg, Kaufland’s market share would have significantly increased, raising antitrust concerns. Conversely, in Bedburg, a shifting market structure—including the opening of new competitor stores—justified clearing the acquisition. Similar market assessments found no significant anti-competitive effects in Chemnitz, Essen, and Wesel.
The investigation also included an analysis of online food retailing, which was found to have minimal impact in rural areas like Neubrandenburg but a modest presence in urban markets like Essen. However, online sales were not decisive in the Bundeskartellamt’s evaluations.
Source: https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Meldung/EN/Pressemitteilungen/2024/18_11_2024_Globus.html
