The Office of Fair Trading has been asked to look into the dominance of the UK's four biggest supermarkets.
The call came from groups representing farmers, small suppliers, corner shops and environmentalists.
They want the competition watchdog to carry out a full review after recent acquisitions by big chains.
The latest came with the takeover of 114 Jacksons convenience stores by Sainsbury's.
Friends of the Earth and the National Federation of Women's Institutes are among those making the application.
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