Auchan got the official go-ahead to purchase the Russian division of the Real store chain, a deal earlier reached with its parent Metro Group.

      Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service approved Auchan’s bid with one reservation.

      According to the ruling, Auchan will have to close its own hypermarket located in the town of Kotelniki, just outside Moscow. Retailors in Russia are obliged to keep their share of the local FMCG market below 25 percent.

      In November 2012, Auchan negotiated a 1.1bn euro deal with Metro Group to buy out the Real hypermarket chain in Eastern and Central Europe.