A PYMNTS Company

UK Competition Watchdog Seeks Views on AB Foods’ Hovis Takeover

By  |  September 18, 2025

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened the first stage of its review into Associated British Foods’ proposed acquisition of breadmaker Hovis, according to The Wall Street Journal . The move would unite two major names in the baking industry and potentially create the country’s largest bread producer.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The regulator has issued what it calls an “invitation to comment,” a preliminary step that allows businesses, consumer groups, and other interested parties to share views on how the merger might affect competition in the UK market. The CMA stressed that this is not yet a full investigation but rather an initial information-gathering exercise. According to the Wall Street Journal, stakeholders have until October 2 to submit their feedback.

    Related: Hovis to Be Acquired by AB Foods in Major UK Bakery Shake-Up

    AB Foods, which owns the Kingsmill brand, revealed last month that it had reached an agreement to purchase Hovis from private equity firm Endless. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hovis, which has a long history in British baking, currently employs about 300 people at its Avonmouth site near Bristol.

    The Wall Street Journal noted that the CMA’s inquiry comes amid broader scrutiny of consolidation in the UK food sector, where regulators are seeking to ensure that large-scale mergers do not harm consumers through reduced competition or higher prices. While the deal could reshape the bread market, its approval will depend on the outcome of the CMA’s formal review once this initial consultation period concludes.

    Source: The Wall Street Journal