Vandemoortele was required to sell its UK plant to finalize its merger with Délifrance, according to the clearance decision from the Competition and Markets Authority, which investigated the merger. Vandemoortele will be required to sell its laminated dough production facility in Worcester and its current UK sales operations in Staines-upon-Thames. The group considers that the sale will preserve an independent source of supply and restore the competitive constraint that would otherwise be lost as a result of the merger.
Martin Coleman, chair of the independent inquiry group, said: “Transferring Vandemoortele’s UK sales operations to an independent operator will protect competition and help keep prices in check for consumers.”
Vandemoortele and Délifrance both supply frozen viennoiserie products, such as croissants and pains au chocolat, to supermarket and foodservice customers. These products are typically baked in-store or on-site before being sold or served to UK consumers.
Having assessed the evidence, the inquiry group concluded that the merger would lead to Vandemoortele becoming the largest supplier of frozen viennoiserie products in the UK and substantially reduce competition in the supply of these products, potentially leading to higher prices or lower quality for businesses and ultimately consumers.
After Vandemoortele conceded that the merger led to a substantial lessening of competition in the UK, the inquiry group was able to streamline its investigation and engage with the businesses much earlier than is typically the case on ways to effectively resolve the competition concerns.
Martin Coleman detailed: “We’ve quickly concluded this investigation having engaged with Vandemoortele to find an effective and proportionate solution to the concerns we identified.
Once Vandemoortele conceded that their merger raised competition concerns, we could streamline the investigation, discuss remedies at an early stage and ultimately make a final decision well ahead of the statutory deadline.
Competition helps keep prices low and this is particularly important in wholesale markets like frozen pastry products which are sold to everyday shoppers in cafés and supermarket bakeries. Transferring Vandemoortele’s UK sales operations to an independent operator will protect competition and help keep prices in check for consumers.”
In May 2026, the CMA accepted Vandemoortele’s concession that the merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the supply of frozen laminated dough products to retail and foodservice customers in the UK.
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