Competition concerns: UK watchdog launches investigation into Carlsberg-Britvic deal
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has begun a formal investigation into Carlsberg’s US$4.28 billion deal with Britvic amid competition concerns.
The watchdog has opened an “invitation to comment” to allow feedback from interested parties about how the potential deal could impact competition in the UK drinks market. Comments will be taken until November 6.
A phase 1 decision is slated for December 18.
The probe comes after the UK Pepsi bottler and soft drinks maker Britvic agreed to a takeover bid of £3.28 billion (US$4.2 billion) from Carlsberg in July. The move is expected to allow the Danish brewer to expand its drinks bottling operations in the UK and beyond beer.
Carlsberg already bottles PepsiCo drinks in several markets, with the potential to expand. Britvic’s soft drinks brands include Robinson’s, Tango and J20.
Britvic’s shareholders have already voted in favor of the offer.
At the time, Ian Durant, a non-executive chair of Britvic, said the proposed deal “creates an enlarged international group well-placed to capture the growth opportunities in multiple drinks sectors.”
He added that Carlsberg’s agreement with PepsiCo provides the “combined group with a strong platform for continued success.”
Food Ingredients First
Related news
Innocent Drinks calls for better access to healthy food
Innocent Drinks, a number of charity partners and the IGD,…
Read more >Sainsbury’s partners with Royal Mail to install parcel lockers in stores
Sainsbury’s is the first UK chain to join Royal Mail’s…
Read more >Alcohol-free drives success for sparkling wine giant
Henkell Freixenet, one of the world’s leading sparkling wine producers,…
Read more >Related news
The 2024 FMCG Retailer Ranking is out now
Everything remains the same: Lidl, SPAR and Tesco are the…
Read more >Still on the border: manufacturing growth slowed in May
In May 2025, the seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)…
Read more >The Hungarian Village Program is relaunching with a budget of ten billion – settlements with fewer than five thousand inhabitants can apply from July 2
The latest tender phase of the Hungarian Village Program will…
Read more >