Competition Bureau reaches agreement with Sobeys’ parent company Empire to address grocery property controls

Competition Bureau reaches agreement with Sobeys’ parent company Empire to address grocery property controls September 22, 2026 – GATINEAU, QC, Competition Bureau

September 22, 2026 – GATINEAU, QC, Competition Bureau

The Competition Bureau has reached an agreement with Empire to address concerns related to its use of property controls in the Canadian grocery industry. Empire is the parent company of multiple grocery banners including Sobeys, Farm Boy, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Marché Bonichoix and Les Marchés Tradition.

Property controls in the grocery sector restrict the use of commercial real estate for the sale of food products. The Bureau has found that they make it difficult, or even impossible, for businesses to open new stores or sell certain products and can reduce competition in local markets across Canada.

Following the commitments it announced in July, Empire has agreed to formalize these measures through a consent agreement registered with the Competition Tribunal, making their commitments legally binding and enforceable. Under the agreement, Empire agreed to:

This agreement will help provide greater certainty and remove barriers for market participants looking to enter or expand in the food retail sector. The Bureau recognizes the important steps taken by Empire to change how it uses property controls in the Canadian grocery sector. Details of the agreement are available in the backgrounder.

The Bureau’s investigation into the use of property controls by other grocers is ongoing, and it continues to monitor the industry closely.