Following a Competition Bureau investigation, Empire Company Limited, a major player in the grocery industry in Canada through its ownership of Sobeys, has agreed to remove a property control that restricted retail grocery store competition in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.
Empire's IGA store is the only grocery store in Crowsnest Pass. The Bureau recently became aware of a restriction, also known as a property control, imposed by Empire in the region since 2017. The Bureau's investigation found that the restriction protected Empire's grocery store from competition and ensured that it would continue to be the only grocery store in the area.
The Bureau's investigation and Empire's actions mean that a new grocery store competitor can move forward with plans to open a second store in Crowsnest Pass in 2025. More competition helps make groceries more affordable and increases product options for the residents of Crowsnest Pass.
The Bureau's investigations into the use of property controls by Sobeys' and Loblaw's parent companies are ongoing. The Bureau invites market participants to provide input about the use of property controls in the Canadian grocery industry.
