Woolworths Limited, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, yesterday withdrew its application to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal a judgement by the New Zealand Court of Appeal that prevented them from taking over NZ retailer The Warehouse. That judgment confirmed the decision of the Commerce Commission declining clearance to Woolworths acquiring 100% of the shares in, or assets of, The Warehouse Group. The decision does not mean Woolworths has given up on purchasing The Warehouse,... ...Read more »

The Warehouse Group Limited, a New Zealand retailer, has taken the decision to discontinue plans to roll out the Warehouse Extra format, which could pave the way for a takeover by Woolworths or Foodstuffs. The Warehouse has been a takeover target for the two major players in the New Zealand grocery sector, Woolworths and Foodstuffs, but a High Court decision that cleared the way for the three Foodstuffs co-operatives and Woolworths Ltd to acquire The Warehouse was overturned by the Court of Appeal... ...Read more »

Woolworths’ bid to gain a greater foothold in the NZ supermarket sector has been quelled by a court ruling, which will not enable them to purchase The Warehouse. The Commerce Commission, the competition watchdog in New Zealand, has claimed the decision by the Court of Appeal, which overturned the High Court decision on ownership of The Warehouse Group Ltd, is a victory for supermarket consumers and competition in markets. In the second appeal from the Commission’s clearance decision,... ...Read more »