Ranjit Singh Boparan, who owns 2 Sisters Food Group, had agreed to the acquisition of ForFarmers UK’s Burston and Radstock feed mills via his feed manufacturing firm 2Agriculture.
The CMA served an initial enforcement order in relation to the deal on 1 August 2024, before officially launching a merger inquiry on 11 September.
The initial order prevented Boparan and ForFarmers from engaging in interim action that could result in integration between Boparan and the target sites.
Written comments are now being invited as part of a Phase 1 investigation, during which the CMA will try and decide whether the deal will lead to the substantial lessening of competition within the European poultry feed market.
Comments can be submitted until 25 September, with a decision deadline set for 6 November.
Previous history
A previous deal between ForFarmers and BPO was abandoned after the CMA determined that it would likely result in higher feed prices and potentially reduced quality
First announced in July 2022, it was ruled in December 2022 that the merger would allow a reduction in competition between poultry feed suppliers.
A ForFarmers UK statement from February 2023 read: “The parties have taken into consideration, among other things, the current impact on their respective businesses, the duration and costs involved and the impact this process has on both employees and farmers.”
In other news, Boparan announced the sale of his European poultry operation to BPO for a fee in excess of €200m earlier this month.
Trading as 2 Sisters Storteboom, it will join Bernard Matthews, Banham Poultry and Elkes Biscuits under the BPO umbrella.
