McCormick / Unilever merger inquiry
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the anticipated acquisition by McCormick & Company, Inc. of the majority of the foods business of Unilever plc.
Statutory timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 11 November 2026 | Decision announced |
| 16 September 2026 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 21 July 2026 to 5 August 2026 | Invitation to comment |
Phase 1
Reference unless undertakings accepted
11 November 2026: The CMA has decided, on the evidence currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for an in-depth, phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer an acceptable undertaking to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision will be published shortly.
- (11.11.26)
Launch of merger inquiry
16 September 2026: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (16.9.26)
Invitation to comment: closed
21 July 2026: The CMA issued this ‘invitation to comment’ to allow interested parties to submit to the CMA any initial views on the impact that the transaction could have on competition in the UK.
To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invited comments on the transaction from any interested party by 5 August 2026.
Pre-notification
The CMA has received the necessary information from the parties to commence pre-notification.
Contact
Please send written representations about any competition issues to:
- mccormick.unileverfoods@cma.gov.uk
- Principal Case Officer: Darren Gysi, darren.gysi@cma.gov.uk
- Case Officer: Erin Mackenzie, erin.mackenzie@cma.gov.uk
Privacy notice
Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please read our personal information charter.