The British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that supermarket chains Aldi and Lidl will be subject to the same land agreement rules that apply to other major retail chains in the country. This decision is aimed at eliminating possible restrictions on competition in the grocery retail market. Previously, similar rules were applied predominantly to the largest market players, while smaller but fast-growing chains such as Aldi and Lidl did not always fall under similar restrictions. Land agreements in question regulate the practice of acquiring and using land plots by retailers, in particular restrictions that may prevent competitors from opening stores in certain territories. According to the CMA, extending uniform rules to all major supermarkets, including Aldi and Lidl, will ensure fairer competitive conditions and expand consumer choice of shopping locations. The authority emphasised that such a measure aligns with its overall goal of protecting consumer interests and maintaining a healthy competitive environment in the retail sector. Experts note that the growth in market share of German discounters Aldi and Lidl in the UK in recent years has made them full-fledged participants in major retail, which necessitated applying the same regulatory requirements to them as to chains such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons.