28/08/2001

UK hypermarket price war will benefit shoppers

A report by consultants Verdict Research has revealed that rivalry between UK supermarkets is set to escalate into a full-scale price war.

The report claimed that although UK grocery chains began a gloves-off fight for customers in the late 1990s, they said that there has been a "marked relaxation in the intensity of competition" in the sector during the past nine months.

However, the new ‘price war’ looks set to benefit customers when the first ‘price war’ shots are fired in the run up to the Christmas period.

In the report published on Tuesday August 28, Verdict also said it ranked Tesco as the UK's highest rated supermarket, thanks largely to the retailer's growing skill as a hypermarket operator.

The report concluded that while Marks & Spencer remained strong in the grocery sector, should a price war develop Sainsbury and Safeway may fare less well. (MB)

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