NMa: Ahold may acquire Konmar branches after selling a number of stores

The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) has cleared the acquisition by Koninklijke Ahold N.V. of 29 Konmar stores owned by Laurus N.V. This requires redrafting Ahold's original acquisition plan. Modification of the notified concentration entails selling off to a competing supermarket company one or several AH or C-1000 stores in a number of localities. The stores to be sold can be found in Almere, Beilen, The Hague, Delft, Maassluis, Tiel and Zoetermeer. As a result of this modification, the creation or strengthening of dominant positions is prevented and consumers continue to have a sufficient choice of supermarkets in these localities.

The NMa identified potential restrictions to competition in a number of local markets, occurring as a result of Ahold's original concentration plans. On a national level, the addition of 29 Konmar stores to Ahold's market share is limited, but problems could arise in a number of local markets owing to high joint market shares. As a result, Ahold would not encounter strong enough incentives to competition. In line with previous supermarket decisions, the NMa has ascribed the turnover of Schuitema (C-1000) to Ahold, the majority shareholder in Schuitema N.V.


On the basis of local market analyses carried out by the NMa, Ahold has modified its acquisition plan. It will divest one or several AH and C-1000 stores to a competitor in seven localities. In The Hague, Ahold will sell off two AH stores, if it decides on acquiring two Konmar stores there. Also, Ahold commits itself not to set up new supermarkets in two newly built shopping centres (Almere and Zoetermeer). Future buyers of AH and C-1000 stores will require clearance from the NMa.