The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) independent inquiry group cleared the proposed purchase of the ForFarmers feed mill in Burston by Ranjit Singh Boparan’s private office following an in-depth Phase 2 investigation.
An investigation into the deal was first launched in September 2024, with the CMA holding concerns about how the deal would impact competition due to the fact that ForFarmers and Boparan (through 2Agriculture) both manufacture and supply chicken feed and other types of poultry feed in the UK.
At the Phase 1 investigation stage, the CMA concluded that Boparan’s purchase of a feed mill site in Radstock, Somerset, did not raise competition concerns and allowed for the sale of this feed mill to be completed.
However, the CMA retained concerns that Boparan acquiring the mill in Burston could lead to higher feed prices.
The resulting Phase 2 investigation found that Boparan’s anticipated purchase of the Burston feed mill site could reduce the capacity available to manufacture chicken feed for chicken suppliers in the area around the mill in East Anglia.
However, these suppliers will still have choice and the option to switch providers due to competition from other chicken feed providers in the market.
Having reviewed the evidence in the round, including the single response received from the parties in response to its interim report, the inquiry group concluded that the merger would not lead to a substantial lessening of competition.
“Having assessed the evidence and feedback to our interim report, which suggested that competition would not be harmed, we have given this acquisition clearance to proceed,” said Kirstin Baker, chair of the independent inquiry group.
ForFarmers is a European manufacturer and supplier of animal feed, based in the Netherlands. 2Agriculture, a subsidiary of Boparan, is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of poultry feed and supplies feed to Hook 2 Sisters, a company affiliated with Boparan, as well as farmers on the open market.
