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2h ago

EU Opens Antitrust Investigation Into Mars’s Kellanova Takeover

Regulators will assess whether Mars’s enlarged snack portfolio has given it excessive leverage over retailers, risking higher prices for European consumers.

Mars and Snickers bars are seen in this picture illustration taken in Berlin, Germany on February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/Illustration/File Photo/File Photo
The EU is worried that Mars would gain added bargaining power over retailers by adding Kellanova brands like Pringles, thus leading to higher prices for consumers
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Overview

  • EU competition chief Teresa Ribera warned that high food inflation makes scrutiny of consumer prices essential
  • A preliminary assessment flagged a risk of Mars gaining added bargaining power over retailers in the 27-nation bloc
  • Mars announced its $35.9 billion all-cash acquisition of Kellanova, owner of Pringles and Pop-Tarts, in August 2024
  • Several retailers have complained that bundling Kellanova’s must-have brands could force them to accept higher supply costs
  • The European Commission must decide by October 31, 2025, after an in-depth review of the deal’s impact on product prices