Evidence of consumer-crushing anti-competitive behaviour is rarely obvious, leaving the bureau to engage in endless meddlesome interventions in mergers, takeovers, and corporate behaviours it concludes are anti-competitive. In March, after a review of the Loblaw takeover of Shoppers Drug Mart, involving 4,600 stores across Canada, the bureau found the deal would substantially lessen or restrict competition and forced the sale of 18 retail and nine drug stores to independent buyers. Loblaw was also forced to sign a behavioural agreement on some its merchandising practices. But how is it possible that selling 27 out of 4,600 stores alters the competitive structure of the industry, especially an industry that is in murderous competition with other retailers, including Walmart and Costco?