Competition Bureau preserves competition in supply of retail fuel in western Canada

News release

July 31, 2023 – GATINEAU, QC – Competition Bureau

The Competition Bureau has reached an agreement with Shell Canada Limited and its affiliates, including Canadian Mobility Services Limited, to resolve competition concerns related to its proposed acquisition of 56 retail gas stations from Sobeys Capital Incorporated in western Canada.

The Bureau concluded that the proposed transaction would likely substantially lessen or prevent competition in the supply of retail fuels in three markets in Alberta and British Columbia. To resolve the Bureau’s concerns, Shell has agreed to divest assets in each of the areas of concern to a buyer (or buyers) to be approved by the Commissioner of Competition.

As part of the agreement Shell will divest assets in the following markets:

Brooks, Alberta;
Fort St. John, British Columbia; and
Mission, British Columbia.

The Commissioner is satisfied that this agreement addresses the competition issues likely to result from the proposed transaction.

The complete agreement is available on the website of the Competition Tribunal.

Quick facts

Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries.
Shell’s Canadian operations include oil and gas exploration, refining and manufacturing, emissions reduction initiatives and fuel delivery. Shell supplies fuel to approximately 1,383 retail stations across Canada.
Sobeys is a food retailer that also operates a retail fuel business. It owns approximately 391 retail fuel stations and related convenience stores across Canada.
The proposed acquisition includes all of Sobeys’ existing stations in western Canada.
Consent agreements generally contain remedial measures that the Commissioner has determined are appropriate to address a proposed transaction’s likely anti-competitive effects. A consent agreement has the force and effect of a court order once it is registered with the Competition Tribunal.

Contacts

For media enquiries, please contact:
Media Relations
Email: media-cb-bc@cb-bc.gc.ca

For general enquiries, please contact:
Enquiries | Complaints

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth.

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Date modified:: 2024-02-08