The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that the proposed merger between Vandemoortele and Délifrance will undergo a detailed phase 2 investigation. This decision comes after the CMA's initial phase 1 review raised significant concerns about potential competition issues in the frozen viennoiserie market.

Initially, in December 2025, the CMA indicated that Vandemoortele's plan to divest two production facilities in France could address its competition concerns. However, the deadline for resolving these issues has passed, and Vandemoortele has not submitted a buyer for the facilities, prompting the CMA to refer the deal for further scrutiny.

The CMA's phase 1 findings suggested that the merger could position Vandemoortele as the largest supplier of frozen viennoiserie products in the UK, which could lead to increased prices or reduced quality for consumers. The investigation will be conducted by an independent panel of experts who will delve deeper into the competitive implications of the merger.

As the investigation progresses, the CMA will continue to engage with Vandemoortele to explore potential remedies to the competition concerns identified.