Bakkavor Group PLC: CMA Launches Initial Probe into Greencore’s Acquisition

On September 1, 2025, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated a phase 1 investigation into Greencore’s proposed acquisition of Bakkavor Group PLC. This development was reported by multiple financial news sources, including Sharecast and AJ Bell, highlighting the regulatory scrutiny the deal is facing.

Bakkavor Group PLC, a prominent UK-based company in the Consumer Staples sector, specializes in a diverse range of prepared food products. Their offerings include bakery items, desserts, pastries, salad dressings, fresh-cut fruits, dips, vegetables, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, fruit juices, fries, wraps, sauces, soups, and meals. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with a market capitalization of 1.35 billion GBP as of August 28, 2025. The close price on that date was 229 GBP, with a 52-week high of 250 GBP and a low of 123.5 GBP. Bakkavor’s price-to-earnings ratio stands at 24.57.

The CMA’s probe into the acquisition is a standard procedure to assess potential impacts on competition within the market. Such investigations are crucial to ensure that mergers and acquisitions do not lead to monopolistic practices or harm consumer interests.

In related financial news, the UK housing market has shown signs of cooling, with house prices unexpectedly falling by 0.1% in August, contrary to forecasts of modest growth. This decline has brought annual growth down to 2.1%, despite recent interest rate cuts by the Bank of England. The housing market’s cooling phase, characterized by increased supply and affordability constraints, may present opportunities for first-time buyers.

As the financial community awaits further developments on the Greencore-Bakkavor acquisition, investors and stakeholders are closely monitoring the CMA’s findings and their potential implications for the food products industry.