Decision reserved on Warehouse takeover hearing

A decision has been reserved on an appeal by supermarket chains Woolworths and Foodstuffs against a ruling blocking them from bidding to take over The Warehouse.

The two rival chains, who already each have 10 percent of The Warehouse, spent the past fortnight in the High Court at Wellington seeking to overturn the Commerce Commission ruling.

Much of the hearing was held in confidential sittings due to concerns about commercial sensitivity.

The case, before Justice Jill Mallon and court lay member Professor Stephen King, a commissioner on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, finished on Friday.