// Some of the largest UK grocers will challenge competition law in midst of coronavirus outbreak
// At least one of the Big 4 grocers has planned to call out waiving rules interfering with industry collaboration
// Temporarily waiving competition law would be the first time such a decision will be taken in decades
The UK’s biggest supermarkets will reportedly warn the government that competition law may have to be suspended to allow them to co-ordinate shopping deliveries, provided the coronavirus outbreak becomes a pandemic.
At least one of the Big 4 grocers has planned to call out waiving rules interfering with industry collaboration, during a conference call with George Eustice, the environment secretary, on Monday afternoon, Sky News reported.
The waiver would allow the grocers to collaborate on deliveries in local areas, where stores may have been closed due to the coronavirus.
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The initiative would also benefit remote parts of the country where alternative options for shopping would be difficult for those self-isolating.
Meanwhile, some supermarkets are aiming to offer home delivery services that are well ahead of the demand that’s expected for this time of year.
Temporarily waiving competition law would be the first time such a decision will be taken in decades.
Moreover, Big 4 leader became one of the first grocers to restrict the number of household items that could be purchased by each customer in a bid to halt stockpiling.
It prevented shoppers from purchasing more than five anti-bacterial products, dried pasta and long-life milk.
In addition, Boris Johnson has maintained that there is no need for consumers to “panic buy” items.
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