The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the findings showed the supermarkets had been cleared of acting against consumers' interests.

A BRC spokesman said:

"It clearly demonstrates there is no systematic unfairness in the way supermarkets treat small retailers or suppliers, and above all, demonstrates our highly competitive grocery market has produced value, choice and convenience for customers."

But the Federation of Small Business (FSB) said it was disappointed the supermarkets had been "let off the hook again".

It said advantages supermarkets enjoyed such as free parking, the "unfair treatment of suppliers" and below-cost selling had not been addressed.

A FSB spokesman said:

"Consumers deserve more than a choice between four supermarkets selling the same products.

"The specialist retailers and independent stores that offer consumers real alternatives are suffering from the anti-competitive practices of the supermarkets. The Competition Commission’s latest report does nothing to address this."