Loblaw Says It Would Join With Grocery Industry in Ending Property Controls

Canada’s biggest grocer says it wants to eliminate commercial property controls in the grocery industry, amid a Competition Bureau investigation into the practice. Spokeswoman Catherine Thomas says Loblaw Companies Ltd. is willing to stop using the covenants, which are terms baked into commercial leases that put restrictions on other tenants and their activities. However, she says the company is calling on the entire grocery industry to do the same. “Property controls have been around for decades across industries, with an intent to incentive development. That said, in some circumstances, they might reduce options for customers,” Thomas said in a statement....