Photo by Denis Agati on Unsplash

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced it is investigating the planned acquisition of Banham Poultry by Ranjit Singh Boparan, president and founder of chicken giant 2 Sisters Food Group

It was revealed last month Boparan was acquiring Banham Poultry through his Boparan Private Office (BPO) business for an undisclosed sum.

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But in an announcement today (8 November), the CMA said it has decided to investigate this transaction and has made an initial enforcement order.

It said it will update the market when its phase one investigation is complete. The CMA has yet to set a date for when that will be.

In a short statement sent to Just Food, a BPO spokesman said: “We have sought regulatory approval from the CMA and will be working with them in the coming weeks on their investigation.”

Banham, based in Norfolk in eastern England, has an annual turnover of around GBP100m (US$137.6m) and sells 650,000 chickens a week. Since 2018, the company has been owned by Chesterfield Poultry, which bought it out of administration.

The business, which has its own hatchery and transport department, supplies chicken to major supermarkets and wholesalers throughout the UK.

Boparan’s 2 Sisters business is the largest poultry processor in the UK. He also separately owns UK poultry business Bernard Matthews, which is also located in Norfolk.