Anchors hold fast in face of lease storm

As the Competition Commission deepens its inquiry into the grocery retail sector, industry pundits are concerned that amendments to exclusive leases at shopping malls, which are claimed to favour big retailers, will come at a cost. The inquiry, announced in May last year by Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, is set to ruffle the feathers of long-standing anchor tenants such as Shoprite, Spar and Woolworths.