The Federal Cartel Office has given the large-scale discounter Kaufland the green light to take over 22 more Real branches. The takeover was “no significant impediment to effective competition in the affected market areas” expected, announced the competition authority on Friday. Kaufland had already received permission to take over up to 92 Real stores in December. Like Lidl, Kaufland belongs to the Schwarz Group. The Russian financial investor SCP took over the 270 Real branches from Metro last year in order to break up the retail chain and sell it on. The break-up is probably the last chance for the established German retail chains to expand their branch network again. Before the break-up, Real had made a turnover of at least seven billion euros.