ABF / Hovis merger inquiry
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Associated British Foods plc (through ABF Grain Products Limited) of Hovis Group Limited.
Phase 2
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 8 January 2026 | Referral date |
| 24 June 2026 | Statutory deadline |
- (15.1.26)
Contact
abfgrainproducts.hovis@cma.gov.uk
Invitation to comment on remedies
10 April 2026: The invitation to comment on remedies sets out and consults on the actions which the CMA might take for the purpose of remedying the substantial lessening of competition and/or any resulting adverse effects provisionally identified in the interim report.
The deadline for submitting comments on possible remedies is 5pm on Friday 17 April 2026.
- (10.4.26)
Interim report
26 March 2026: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns in the supply of bread and certain other bakery products in Northern Ireland, but not in Great Britain, as part of its in-depth investigation into the anticipated acquisition by Associated British Foods plc of Hovis Group Limited.
The deadline for submitting responses to the interim report is 5pm on Thursday 16 April 2026.
- (26.3.26)
- (26.3.26)
- (27.3.26)
- (27.3.26)
Response to our areas of focus
- (26.2.26)
Areas of focus
15 January 2026: This document sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions. The deadline for submitting responses was 5pm on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
- (15.1.26)
Inquiry group appointed
8 January 2026: The CMA has appointed the following inquiry group:
Terms of reference
8 January 2026: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Associated British Foods plc (through ABF Grain Products Limited) of Hovis Group Limited.
- (8.1.26)
Phase 1
Statutory timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 8 January 2026 | Decision to refer |
| 19 February 2026 | Deadline for phase 1 decision |
| 19 December 2025 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 18 September to 2 October 2025 | Invitation to comment |
Reference decision
8 January 2026: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Associated British Foods plc (through ABF Grain Products Limited) of Hovis Group Limited for an in-depth investigation under its fast-track procedure at the request of the merging parties.
- (8.1.26)
Launch of merger inquiry
19 December 2025: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (19.12.25)
Invitation to comment: closed
18 September 2025: The CMA is issuing this preliminary ‘invitation to comment’ to allow interested parties to submit to the CMA any initial views on the impact that the transaction could have on competition in the UK. This invitation to comment is the first part of the CMA’s information-gathering process.
To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.
Privacy notice
Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy notice.
Updates to this page
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Invitation to comment on remedies published.
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Full interim report published.
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Summary and notice of interim report published.
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Parties' joint response to our areas of focus published.
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Administrative timetable and areas of focus published.
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Full text decision to refer published, and inquiry group appointed.
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Phase 2 terms of reference published.
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Launch of merger inquiry published.
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First published.