UK food supplier gets go-ahead to acquire tomato processor

A UK–based food company has received the green light this week from the European Commission to acquire an Italian tomato processor.

Princes received EU approval to acquire AR Industrie Alimentari S.p.A after it was ruled the takeover would not “significantly alter the market structure.”

Sole control over certain assets would not “raise competition concerns”, according to EU merger regulations, with alternative suppliers already having access to a “sufficient” customer base.

The acquisition in the pre-packaged tomato-based cooking ingredients and pulses market was ruled to raise no concerns and the commission concluded the transaction “would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.”

The new company, Princes Industrie Alimentari S.r.L, will produce, market and distribute pre-packaged tomato-based cooking ingredients.