The Swedish government has tasked the Swedish Competition Authority (Konkurrensverket) with developing practical guidance to strengthen competition in the grocery retail sector. The assignment focuses on helping municipalities facilitate the establishment of grocery stores, both in new developments and in existing urban areas.
As part of its mandate, the Competition Authority will prepare comprehensive guidance for municipalities, outlining best practices to promote effective competition and lower barriers to market entry. This includes addressing obstacles that retailers face in securing suitable store locations, as well as proposing measures to reduce contractual or regulatory barriers that hinder new establishments. Where necessary, the Authority may also submit proposals for legislative amendments.
The deadline for reporting the results of this assignment is April 15, 2026. Following submission, the guidance will be disseminated to municipalities and relevant stakeholders with the support of the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket).
The initiative builds on earlier findings by the Competition Authority, which has repeatedly emphasized the importance of location availability for fostering competition in the grocery market. In its report “Establishment of the Grocery Retail Trade in the Municipalities” (2024:4), the Authority highlighted that many grocery retailers had encountered significant difficulties in opening new stores across municipalities, often due to planning restrictions or contractual arrangements.
By providing municipalities with clearer guidance and concrete policy recommendations, the government aims to lower barriers to entry and improve competition in the grocery retail sector—an issue of growing importance given the sector’s role in consumer welfare and local economic development.
