The UK Competition and Markets Authority has formally launched a Phase 1 merger investigation into the anticipated $65 billion transaction between McCormick & Company and Unilever. Following a preliminary information-gathering period that began with an invitation to comment in July 2026, the antitrust authority confirmed on September 16 that the official merger notice submitted by both corporations meets statutory requirements under the Enterprise Act 2002.
The formal initial assessment period begins on September 17, 2026. Under the statutory timetable, the regulator has set a deadline of November 11, 2026, to determine whether the transaction threatens to substantially lessen competition in the United Kingdom market and should be referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation.
The proposed deal involves McCormick acquiring the majority of Unilever’s global foods division, a move that would unite major household names, including Knorr, Hellmann’s, French’s, and Frank’s RedHot. By creating one of the largest global flavorings and packaged food conglomerates, the merged entity aims to build scale to manage changing consumer demand and rising supply chain costs. The CMA’s investigation will evaluate whether consolidating these prominent food brands across retail and food service supply chains risks creating market dominance or reducing competition for consumers in the UK.
