Competition Bureau reaches deal with Empire to end property control in Alberta town

The Competition Bureau has reached a deal with Empire Co. Ltd. to remove a property control that the regulator says restricted grocery store competition in Crowsnest Pass, Alta.

Empire’s IGA store is the only grocery store in the town.

The regulator says its investigation found a property control restriction protected the store from competition and ensured it would continue to be the only grocery store in the area.

The bureau says the agreement Thursday. (Jan. 16) means a competitor can move forward with plans to open a second grocery store in Crowsnest Pass.

Empire is the parent company of Sobeys Inc., which operates 1,600 stores across Canada under several banners including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland, Longos, Farm Boy, Thrifty Foods, Les Marchés Tradition and Marché BoniChoix.

The bureau says its investigations into the use of property controls by the parent companies of Sobeys and Loblaws are ongoing.