Supermarket group Spar has "nothing to hide," it said on Monday.

This followed an announcement from the Competition Commission that it had initiated an investigation into major South African supermarket chains for possible contraventions of the Competition Act.

These chains included Pick n Pay, Shoprite-Checkers, Woolworths and Spar.

Group marketing director of Spar, Roelf Venter, told Sapa the company welcomed the commission's investigation.

"Retail is the most competitive sector in South Africa so let the commission get this on the table for once and for all.

"Spar does not sit around tables with other retailers in discussions," Venter added.

He criticised the commission's mention of long-term lease arrangements.

"Show me any company in the world that spends R20-million on opening a store and then doesn't have a long-term lease arrangement ... It's got nothing to do with anti-competitive behaviour."

Venter said that while retailers obviously studied one another, there was no free flow of information between them.

"Food pricing is a sensitive issue at the moment and our margins are under tremendous pressure," he said.

According to the Competition Commission, the investigation had been prompted by concerns raised by various stakeholders and the public in general.

"Concerns raised fall within the food and agro-processing sector, which has been identified as a priority by the commission," it said.

Sapa

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