CMA news and archive

CMA rules JD and Leicester City FC broke competition rules

Following a lengthy investigation into the duo’s operations, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially found JD Sports and its partner Leicester City Football Club Limited guilty of breaking competition law. The decision comes in regards to allegations that the two companies colluded to restrict competition in the sale of...

Business

CMA: JD Sports broke competition laws with Leicester City FC

JD Sport has found itself in the crosshairs of the UK’s competition watchdog once again for breaking competition laws alongside football club Leicester City FC. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Wednesday it has provisionally found that JD Sports and Leicester City FC “colluded to restrict competition in the sales of Leicester...

Business

UK targets big tech to boost online consumer rights

Global tech giants could face fines of up to 10 percent of their annual turnover if a British government bill to protect consumers launched on Tuesday becomes law. The bill aims to strengthen competition in digital markets and crack down on subscription traps as well as prevent online scams such as fake reviews. It envisages giving the...

Fashion |Interview Featured

CMA interview: Fashion's tricky issue of greenwashing and how the UK is fighting it

Greenwashing in fashion is one of the industry’s hottest topics at the moment as vague claims like “sustainable”, “green”, “eco”, and “environmentally friendly” are facing mounting scrutiny from shoppers seeking more transparent ways to buy more responsibly. As consumer demand for less environmentally damaging clothing has grown, so too has...

Business

CMA urges UK shoppers to report online rip-offs

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is promoting the next step of its ‘Online Rip-Off Tip-Off’ campaign, by educating consumers on misleading online sale tactics and encouraging them to report businesses who make use of them. The campaign is led by Martin Lewis Money Show co-presenter Angellica Bell and enables consumers to tip off...

Business

UK watchdog launches investigation into Richemont's sale of YNAP to Farfetch

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into Richemont’s sale of e-commerce businesses Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP) to Farfetch, and if they may pose unfair competition. The CMA has invited comments on the transaction from any interested party, as it takes a deep dive into the merger situations, which is regulated by the...

Business

Meta ordered to offload Giphy by competition watchdog

Meta has been ordered to offload its Giphy business by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). In a ruling the CMA said takeover of the gif-creation website could harm social media users and advertising competition. It is the first time an acquisition of a tech giant was blocked in the UK. In 2020 Meta acquired Giphy, the largest...

Business

Asos 'quietly' removed sustainable fashion edit ahead of greenwashing investigation

Asos is said to have “quietly” removed its sustainable fashion collection from its website weeks before a UK watchdog launched an investigation into potential greenwashing by the brand. The retailer’s ‘Responsible Edit’ was launched in 2019 as a “one-stop-shop” for sustainable clothing and coincided with a filter that allowed shoppers to search...

Fashion Featured

Asos, Boohoo, Asda investigated by UK watchdog over ‘green’ claims

A UK watchdog has launched an investigation into Asos, Boohoo, and Asda over their “green” claims. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it wants to “get to the bottom” of whether the three companies are “misleading customers” over their products’ sustainability credentials. The move is part of the CMA’s recent effort to crack down on...

BusinessFeatured

JD Sports potentially considering Footasylum sale

JD Sports could be looking into selling Footasylum to Aurelius Group, a private equity investor, following a lengthy battle with a UK competition watchdog. According to a report by Sky News, the sportswear retailer has entered into exclusive talks with Aurelius to sell the Footasylum chain, although the terms of the potential deal are currently...

Business

UK watchdog launches investigation into Amazon

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced the launch of an investigation into Amazon’s use of non-public third-party seller data and how it sets criteria for product offers placed in its ‘Buy Box’. The ‘Buy Box’, which is displayed on Amazon product pages, provides customers with a one-click purchase option for specific...

Fashion

Fashion brands account for quarter of ‘greenwashing’ complaints to UK watchdog

Fashion brands have accounted for 1 in 4 ‘greenwashing’ complaints to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) since new guidelines were introduced last year, new research finds. Published in September 2021, The Green Claims Code lays out how businesses can communicate their green credentials in an honest and accurate way without...