[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

If they aren't closing shops and trimming staff then the only way they can get the price reductions is by squeezing the suppliers, who are already being hammered. I don't think this is good news at all

The promise not to close stores and reduce staff will likely only stand for a couple of years. After that, they will definitely close unprofitable stores. They can then claim that this was "for other business reasons" and "not a result of the merger".