The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared the proposed merger between Associated British Foods’ (ABF) bakery business and Hovis across the whole of the UK, following additional analysis conducted as part of its Phase 2 investigation.

CMA flags competition concerns in Vandemoortele-Délifrance merger
This merger, formalised under a Share Purchase Agreement signed in June 2025, is now under scrutiny as the CMA prepares for a possible Phase 2 investigation.