UK Competition Commission clears healthfood merger

On 20 August the CC cleared the completed acquisition of healthfood retailer Julian Graves by Holland & Barrett unconditionally, following an in-depth investigation. The Commission found that even though the parties were close competitors in the sale of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, many other retailers – notably supermarkets – provided alternative (albeit differentiated) sources of competitive pressure. RBB advised alongside lawyers Freshfields.