The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) las launched an investigation into the acquisition of Banham Poultry by Boparan Private Office, via Amber REI Holdings.
The CMA has served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in relation to the completed acquisition and is now seeking written representations about any competition or public interest.
The CMA has not yet announced a deadline for taking representations or announced when it will make any kind of decision, but has asked for any relevant information to be sent to James McGarrachan of the Competition and Markets Authority via James.McGarrachan@cma.gov.uk
On 20 October, PB first reported Norfolk poultry business Banham Poultry had been sold to the private office of 2 Sisters Food Group founder Ranjit Boparan for an undisclosed sum.
The business was last bought in 2018 by Chesterfield Poultry, which since invested £11m at the 12-acre Attleborough site. The fully integrated poultry business produces around 7% of the UK’s chicken.
A spokesman for the Boparan Private Office (BPO) said at the time: “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Banham Poultry which safeguards more than 1,000 employees and many more across the supply chain in the region.”