In a landmark move for the UK's convenience food sector, Greencore has officially completed its £1.2 billion takeover of fellow supplier Bakkavor. The deal, which was first agreed upon in May of last year, received final court approval on Thursday, 15 January 2026, culminating a process that involved significant scrutiny from the UK's competition watchdog.
Navigating Regulatory Hurdles
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had raised concerns that the merger could lead to a "substantial lessening of competition" specifically in the supply of chilled supermarket sauces, potentially resulting in higher prices for consumers. To secure the CMA's green light, Greencore committed to divesting its only chilled soup and sauces production facility, located in Bristol.
This divestment was finalised earlier this week with The Compleat Food Group confirming its acquisition of the Bristol plant. This strategic sale was the key concession that alleviated the regulator's competition fears and allowed the broader takeover to proceed.
Creating a UK Convenience Food Champion
Structured as a reverse takeover, the union of Dublin-headquartered Greencore and London-based Bakkavor creates a formidable new entity in the food manufacturing landscape. The combined group will boast annual sales of approximately £4 billion and will be a critical supplier to many of the UK's largest supermarket chains and retailers.
Bakkavor operates numerous sites across the UK, including locations in Somerset, Wiltshire, Aston in the West Midlands, Crewe in Cheshire, Barton in West Lancashire, and across the East of England and the South East.
Leadership and Future Prospects
Dalton Philips, Chief Executive of Greencore, stated that the company has spent recent months preparing detailed plans to integrate the two businesses effectively. He marked the completion as a significant milestone, particularly in Greencore's centenary year.
"We are proud today to bring together two great companies to create a UK national convenience food champion," said Philips. "I’d like to thank the hard work of the teams at Greencore and Bakkavor that made this combination happen, while continuing to deliver great food for our customers every day."
Philips expressed excitement for the future, highlighting the group's comprehensive portfolio spanning "food for now" and "food for later" categories. The merger positions the enlarged Greencore to leverage greater scale, a broader product range, and enhanced capabilities to serve the evolving demands of the UK's retail sector.
