Aramark / Entier merger inquiry
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the completed acquisition by Aramark Limited of Entier Limited.
Phase 2
Administrative timetable
| Referral date | 5 August 2025 |
| Statutory deadline | 19 January 2026 |
- (12.8.25)
Contact
Invitation to comment on remedies
11 November 2025: The invitation to comment on remedies sets out and consults on the actions which the CMA might take for the purpose of remedying the substantial lessening of competition and/or any resulting adverse effects provisionally identified in the interim report.
The deadline for submitting comments on possible remedies is 5pm on Tuesday 18 November 2025.
- (11.11.25)
Interim report
24 October 2025: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the completed acquisition by Aramark Limited of Entier Limited.
The deadline for submitting responses to the interim report is 5pm on Friday 14 November 2025.
- (24.10.25)
- (24.10.25)
- (24.10.25)
- (24.10.25)
Responses to the phase 1 decision
- (3.9.25)
Inquiry group appointed
5 August 2025: The CMA has appointed the following inquiry group:
Terms of reference
5 August 2025: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by Aramark Limited of Entier Limited for an in-depth investigation.
- (5.8.25)
Phase 1
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 22 July 2025 | Phase 1 decision announced |
| 23 May 2025 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 23 May 2025 to 9 June 2025 | Invitation to comment |
| 25 March 2025 | Initial enforcement order |
Reference decision
5 August 2025: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by Aramark Limited of Entier Limited for an in-depth investigation, on the basis that, on the information currently available to it, 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.
- (5.8.25)
- Press release: North Sea catering merger set for in-depth investigation (5.8.25)
Reference unless undertakings accepted
22 July 2025: 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.
- (11.8.25)
- (22.7.25)
Launch of merger inquiry
23 May 2025: The CMA has announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (23.5.25)
Invitation to comment: Closed 9 June 2025
23 May 2025: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.
To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.
Initial enforcement order
25 March 2025: The Competition and Markets Authority has served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Aramark.
- (26.3.25)
Amendments and consents granted
- (12.6.25)
- (1.7.25)
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 see our Privacy Notice.
Updates to this page
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Invitation to comment on remedies published.
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Interim report published.
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Summary of interim report and interim report notice published
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Parties’ joint response to phase 1 decision published
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Phase 2 administrative timetable published
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Full text phase 1 decision published
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Decision to refer to phase 2, and terms of reference published.
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Phase 1 decision published.
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Derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Commencement notice and invitation to comment published.
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First published.