cannibalizing
n.— «More worryingly, the conglomerate is continuing its use of a business practice known as “cannibalising,” whereby new stores are opened in close proximity to existing branches. The intention of this is that sister stores will compete with and feed on one another before achieving total domination. Needless to say, in the face of such aggressive strategy, independent stores are forced out.» —“Starbucks and the British high street” by Anna van Praugh Telegraph (United Kingdom) June 15, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Language is always evolving, and that’s also true for American Sign Language. A century ago, the sign for “telephone” was one fist below your mouth and the other at your ear, as if you’re holding an old-fashioned candlestick...
We tend to take the index of a book for granted, but centuries ago, these helpful lists were viewed with suspicion. Some even worried that indexes would harm reading comprehension! A witty new book tells the story. Plus, the Latin term bona fides...
My vague recollection is that the term was used in precisely this sense, including the Starbucks example, by Naomi Klein in “No Logo”. Please forgive me if I’m mistaken.