The Danish supermarket giant Salling Group has officially received approval to acquire 33 stores from Coop Danmark, according to a recent announcement by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen).
Initially, the merger agreement involved 35 stores. However, two locations—in Taastrup and Slagelse—were excluded after the competition authority identified significant potential for competitive harm in these areas.
Details of the approved merger
The Competition Council (Konkurrencerådet) stated that the takeover did not raise concerns warranting intervention, thus approving the transaction without conditions.
Christian Schultz, Chairman of the Competition Council, noted,
“Salling’s acquisition of 33 stores from Coop Danmark gave us no reason to intervene. Therefore, we could approve the takeover outright. The two stores, initially seen as problematic, were voluntarily withdrawn by the involved parties.”
Store locations and future plans
Of the 33 stores approved for acquisition, 31 currently operate under Coop’s brands such as 365discount, Kvickly, or SuperBrugsen. Two additional stores included in the deal are planned locations yet to open. The stores affected by this takeover are situated across numerous Danish cities, including Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Odense, Vejle, Randers, Esbjerg, and Kolding.
Impact on market competition
According to the Danish competition authority, post-merger, all major national grocery chains, including Coop Danmark itself, will continue operating in the affected local areas. This decision ensures that the competitive environment for consumers remains healthy and diverse.
Salling Group currently manages various discount stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets under the well-known Danish brands Netto, Føtex, and Bilka, operating more than 600 locations across Denmark.
Coop Danmark, despite divesting these properties, will continue operating its remaining supermarket chains such as Kvickly, SuperBrugsen, 365discount, and Brugsen.
This acquisition marks a significant expansion for Salling Group and further solidifies its position as a leading grocery retail player in Denmark.
