Aramark / Entier merger inquiry
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-04)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the completed acquisition by Aramark Limited of Entier Limited.

Phase 2

Administrative timetable
- Administrative timetable (PDF, 118KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/689b02a99c63e0ee87656aaf/admin_timetable.pdf) (12.8.25)
Contact

xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee

4 December 2025: On 14 November 2025, pursuant to an initial enforcement order dated 25 March 2025, the CMA directed Aramark Investment Limited, Aramark Limited and Entier Limited to appoint a monitoring trustee.

Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee (PDF, 133KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6931671c0cf0b7e681ff420a/_Directions_to_appoint_a_monitoring_trustee_Aramark_Entier.pdf) (4.12.25)

Appointment of monitoring trustee (PDF, 120KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693169d85b5198836f30404e/_Appointment_of_monitoring_trustee_Aramark_Entier.pdf) (4.12.25)

Response to the interim report
- Parties’ joint response (PDF, 308KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69243afc053e434aa90261ea/Parties__joint_response.pdf) (24.11.25)
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 was 5pm on Tuesday 18 November 2025.
- Invitation to comment on remedies (PDF, 203KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69131d322017198896ad7f4a/Invitation_to_comment_on_remedies_1.pdf) (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 was 5pm on Friday 14 November 2025.
- Interim report notice (PDF, 141KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fb341230c331c88be6f069/interim_report_notice.pdf) (24.10.25)
- Interim report (PDF, 887KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fb906fc18f97edd2b637c0/Interim_report_28.11.25.pdf) (24.10.25)
- Appendices (PDF, 906KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fb9097baf1f8c92fb5f9e5/Interim_report_appendices.pdf) (24.10.25)
- Interim report summary (PDF, 133KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fb3422b3e33205c4e6f061/interim_report_summary.pdf) (24.10.25)
Responses to the phase 1 decision
- Parties’ joint response (PDF, 296KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b802d33f3e5483efdba90d/parties_joint_response.pdf) (3.9.25)
Inquiry group appointed

5 August 2025: The CMA has appointed the following inquiry group:
- Richard Feasey (Chair) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/inquiry-chairs-biographies#richard-feasey)
- Paul Hughes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#paul-hughes)
- Crispin Wright (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#crispin-wright)
Terms of reference

5 August 2025: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by Aramark Limited of Entier Limited for an in-depth investigation.
- Terms of reference (PDF, 99KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6890b153dc6688ed508783d4/Terms_of_reference_.pdf) (5.8.25)
Phase 1

Administrative timetable

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.
- Decision to refer (PDF, 132KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6890b136dc6688ed508783d3/Decision_to_refer_.pdf) (5.8.25)
- Press release: North Sea catering merger set for in-depth investigation (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/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.
- Full text decision (PDF, 509KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6899a788e7be62b4f06431ef/full_text_decision1.pdf) (11.8.25)
- Summary of phase 1 decision (PDF, 112KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/687f5c0292957f2ec567c665/Summary_of_phase_1_decision.pdf) (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.
- Commencement notice (PDF, 90KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68302d6bbaff3dab99775274/Commencement_notice.pdf) (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.
- Initial enforcement order (PDF, 200KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e3c794dcd2d93561195bce/IEO.pdf) (26.3.25)
Amendments and consents granted
- Derogation 3 June 2025 (PDF, 123KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6849824eb575706ea223d218/_Derogation_3_June_2025_.pdf) (12.6.25)
- Derogation 18 June 2025 (PDF, 131KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6863c23b08bf2f5376121aa7/Derogation_18_June_2025.pdf) (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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about/personal-information-charter).