Between 18 September and 2 October interested parties have been invited to submit their initial views on the impact that the deal could have on competition in the UK.
The CMA has not yet launched its formal investigation into this transaction, with the invitation to comment representing the first part of its information-gathering process.
It was announced on 15 August that Associated British Foods had reached an agreement with Hovis owner Endless LLP to acquire the brand in a deal worth around £70 million.
Associated British Foods, which also owns bread brand Kingsmill, said at the time that it expects the merger to allow its Allied Bakeries division to better compete within the UK bakery category. Sales at both Hovis and Kingsmill have suffered in recent years.
Associated British Foods and Endless LLP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
General secretary of the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, Sarah Woolley, told Food Manufacture that the trade union will be “engaging with the process and submitting comments” as it did when the CMA launched an inquiry into the proposed acquisition of Bakkavor by Greencore.
“We will continue to ensure our members voices are heard through the whole process and are not negatively impacted by the merger through job losses or cuts to T&Cs,” Woolley added.
In related news, Hovis announced earlier this week that its CEO Jon Jenkins was stepping down as of “mid September”.
Jenkins joined the firm as CEO in October 2022 after more than two and a half years as the chief executive of Müller UK & Ireland.