Clearing the Path for a 2026 Deal Completion
Greencore said offloading the soups and sauces site paves the way for completing the Bakkavor acquisition in early 2026, assuming the CMA gives its blessing. The Bristol business generated £47 million in sales in the year to September, equivalent to about 1% of the combined Greencore–Bakkavor group’s projected revenue.
Greencore supplies chilled and frozen foods to customers in Britain and the U.S., while Bakkavor—focused on fresh prepared foods—operates across the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S.
The Irish company’s cash-and-stock proposal, made in May, values each Bakkavor share at 200 pence.
A Deal Still Waiting on the Courts
Even with CMA approval, the acquisition must still be sanctioned by the High Court before it can proceed.
The CMA first launched a phase-one probe in September but escalated to phase two after finding that the merger could “substantially lessen competition,” especially in the sauce category—covering staples like pasta and stir-fry sauces.
As the clock ticks toward December, Greencore’s move to sell the Bristol site now stands as the key piece in its bid to bring the long-anticipated takeover across the finish line.
