The Competition and Markets Authority has opened an invitation to comment on the anticipated acquisition by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of the sausage, sliced cooked meat, snacking, bacon and pâté business of Samworth Brothers Limited, trading as Walkers Deli & Sausage Co. Pilgrim’s Pride is part of the JBS group.
The step is the first part of the CMA’s information gathering process. The authority says it has received the necessary information from the parties to commence pre-notification, but it has not yet launched its formal Phase 1 investigation, and the case page will be updated when it does. Written representations on any competition issues are due by November 25, 2026.
No transaction value is disclosed on the CMA case page, and neither party’s announcement is part of this record. What the inquiry establishes is regulatory, not financial: a United States and Brazilian owned protein group buying a significant United Kingdom branded and own label cooked meat business will be tested for its effect on competition in the United Kingdom before it can proceed.
This is the third United Kingdom food merger inquiry to surface in this week’s pool, after the McCormick and Unilever foods inquiry and the AkzoNobel and Axalta inquiry covered on November 11. The Pilgrim’s case is at an earlier stage than both: comment first, with a formal investigation decision still to come.