Sainsbury’s and Asda have asked the CMA for more time ahead of proposed merger

Sainsbury’s and Asda have asked the Competitions and Markets Authority for more time to provide all of the evidence regarding their proposed merger.

In a statement, the two retailers said that the current timescale wouldn’t give them or the CMA enough time given the scale and complexity of the case.

They have asked for an extra 11 working days over the Christmas period to respond to newly provided material.

In the statement, they added: “We are confident in the merits of the deal and our ability to deliver the synergies. By bringing our two businesses together, we will invest further in range, quality and customer service, while lowering prices and reducing the cost of living for millions of UK households.”