U.K. Regulator: McCormick’s $65 Billion Unilever Food Deal Could Harm Competition

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said McCormick’s proposed acquisition of Unilever’s food business, valued at more than $65 billion including debt, could harm competition in one or more U.K. markets. According to Sina Finance, the regulator gave the companies until November 18 to offer remedies, citing their close competition in dried cooking ingredients and dried sauces; the deal would combine two leading suppliers, including McCormick’s Schwartz brand and Unilever’s Knorr and Colman’s brands. McCormick and Unilever said they were engaging constructively with the CMA and remained hopeful of completing the deal on schedule. The companies agreed to the transaction in March this year and had previously expected to complete it in mid-2027. Unilever said it had decided to sell the Colman’s brand to address competition concerns and that discussions with potential buyers were progressing well. The CMA said other branded and private-label suppliers, including Nestlé’s Maggi, were unlikely to constrain the combined company’s market position. It also said the merger could make it harder for competitors to enter or expand in dried cooking ingredients and dried sauces, weakening competition in both categories. Mustard products were also reviewed. The CMA said supermarket evidence indicated consumers do not consider different styles of mustard interchangeable and that stores need to stock each type. It found no overlap between the companies in this business and no realistic competition concern in the category.