ForFarmers and 2Agriculture merger investigated by CMA

An initial enforcement order has been served by the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) related to the acquisition of two ForFarmers feed mills by 2Agriculture.

The order prevents any agreements between the two parties being completed, and restricts any integration of ForFarmers’ Burston and Radstock feed mills with the 2Agriculture business.

See also: Competition authority to investigate ForFarmers UK and 2 Agriculture merger

Phase one of the CMA investigation is due to commence shortly, but set dates for the full period have not yet been made public.

ForFarmers is a major manufacturer and animal feed supplier, with headquarters in the Netherlands.

2Agriculture is one of the UK’s largest poultry feed manufacturers, and forms part of the Boparan Group.

A previous merger between ForFarmers and 2Agriculture was abandoned in early 2023 after a prior CMA investigation ruled that the deal could lead to higher poultry feed prices and potentially lower quality feed.

At the time of the earlier investigation, Sorcha O’Carroll, senior director of mergers at the CMA, said: “Feed is the biggest expense faced by farmers when rearing chicken, the UK’s favourite meat.

“With food prices already increasing and the wider cost of living crisis, it is vital that we don’t allow a reduction in competition between poultry feed suppliers, which could make this situation worse – both for farmers and shoppers at the checkout.”