Asda and Sainsbury's have come up with a plan to sell between 125 and 150 stores nationwide and a number of petrol stations as they look to force through a multi-billion pound merger deal.
The retail giants announced their intentions to combine in April 2018 with the aim of providing better 'price, quality, range' and a promise to lower prices by up to 10 per cent for regular customers.
However, the move hit a buffer in February this year when a report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed that the merger may be blocked altogether due to 'extensive competition concerns', particularly around a lack of choice and quality of produce.
It came as a huge blow to the Asda, who employ thousands of people at their Leeds headquarters on the banks on the River Aire.
However, the duo have 'categorically rejected' the claims from the CMA that the merger would worsen the outcome for customers.
'The CMA’s analysis ignores both the evidence and the realities of how customers shop today'
In a scathing joint statement, spokespersons for both supermarkets said: "We operate in a rapidly changing and competitive market, where customers have more choice than ever in how they shop for groceries.
"The driving force behind this merger is to deliver lower prices, better quality and service for our customers.
"We will lower prices for customers by £1 billion annually by the end of the third year, starting with a first year investment of £300 million.
"The CMA’s analysis ignores both the evidence and the realities of how customers shop today. The CMA has applied a threshold for identifying local areas of concern that does not fit the facts and is far below the most conservative standards applied in previous cases.
"This means that the CMA identifies an area of concern where an Asda and a Sainsbury’s store are within seven minutes’ drive time of each other, irrespective of whether there are one or six competitors in the same area. Essentially, a competition test that ignores competition."
A final decision on the merger is expected from the CMA by Tuesday, April 30.
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