CMA consults on final undertakings in Vandemoortele/Délifrance deal

On 15 September 2026 the Competition and Markets Authority gave notice that it proposes to accept final undertakings in the Vandemoortele / Délifrance merger inquiryGOV and invited comments on the proposed draft undertakings by 5pm on 30 September 2026GOV. The case page carries two new documents: the notice of proposal to accept final undertakings and the draft final undertakings themselves. The notice is a consultation on the proposed draft final undertakings: the undertakings are proposed, not yet acceptedGOV, and it follows the final report published on 20 August 2026.

The inquiry concerns the completed acquisition by Vandemoortele Group of Délifrance S.A.GOV On 15 May 2026 Vandemoortele notified the CMA that it accepted that the completed acquisition may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition through horizontal unilateral effects in the supply of frozen Laminated Dough products to retail and foodservice customers in the United KingdomGOV, and the inquiry group accepted that concession and proceeded on that basis. The press release accompanying the August final report states that Vandemoortele is required to sell a UK plant following the investigationGOV. The statutory deadline for the inquiry is 6 October 2026GOV.

Final undertakings in this context are distinct from the undertakings in lieu of a reference the CMA declined earlier in this case. The page records that on 22 April 2026 the CMA referred the completed acquisition for an in-depth investigation and gave notice that it had decided not to accept the proposed undertakings in lieu of a referenceGOV. Final undertakings are instead the remedy vehicle after a phase 2 report: under the Enterprise Act 2002 the CMA, having published a report finding an anti-competitive outcome, must take such action under the final-undertakings or final-order provisions as it considers reasonable and practicable to remedy, mitigate or prevent the substantial lessening of competition and any resulting adverse effects. An undertaking accepted under that provision comes into force when accepted and may later be varied, superseded by another undertaking, or released by the CMA.

Anyone following the inquiry — including retail and foodservice customers in the frozen laminated dough market affected by the substantial lessening of competition identified there — should read the draft final undertakings alongside the notice and submit comments so that they arrive by 5pm on 30 September 2026GOV. The inquiry contact address is vandemoortele.delifrance@cma.gov.uk and the administrative timetable gives 6 October 2026 as the statutory deadline.

Legal basis: Enterprise Act 2002 sections 41 (duty to remedy effects of completed mergers) and 82 (final undertakings).