Belgium-based food retail group Delhaize has lodged a legal challenge against the possibility of a stake in its French Cora supermarket chain, being acquired by rival firm Casino.

French food retail giant Carrefour previously owned the relatively small Cora, which generates annual sales of around 4.8bn [euro].

However, Carrefour had to fulfil a number of commitments following its merger several years ago with Promodes.

Carrefour sold its 42.39% stake Cora to Deutsche Bank in October of last year, in a deal worth 850m [euro]. Equally, Deutsche Bank announced it had a five-year agreement enabling Casino to buy the stake.

Delhaize wants to buy the stake itself, however, and Les Echos report that Delhaize will ask the Paris Tribunal of Commerce to rule the previous agreements unlawful.

The key to the outcome of the dispute will focus around the agreement established between Cora and Casino, when the two firms created a purchasing joint venture.

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