Competition regulators have invited comments on the completed acquisition of a 1,000-strong producer of juices and fruit-based desserts by the UK arm of The Hain Celestial Group amid concerns it could have impacted the market.
Insider reported in December that Orchard House Foods was set to be bought by Yorkshire’s Hain Celestial United Kingdom, which owns the likes of Ella’s Kitchen and Hartley’s, from Surrey-based Wellness Foods Ltd.
However, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a statement to invite comments on the transaction as it considers whether the deal has “resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition”.
The deadline for comments is 4 April 2016 and a decision is expected in May.
Orchard House Foods was founded in 1985 to commercialise freshly squeezed orange juice in the UK. It has facilities in Gateshead and Corby in Northamptonshire.
Source: Insider Media
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