Farmers’ representatives reacted angrily to the proposed takeover in January when it was announced.
The president of Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Pat McCormack, said at the time that while he did not doubt that such an acquisition would be described as consolidation, “it would be much more accurately described as competition reduction and farmers would look very sceptically at the implications of the move”.
In its final decision, the CCPC said it examined how the proposed tie-up would affect competition in several markets, including the purchase of live cattle for slaughter within a 100km radius of Kildare Chilling’s slaughterhouse; the purchase of live lamb and sheep for slaughter in the State and the sale of fresh lamb and beef meat to grocery retailers in the State.It also investigated the impact of the acquisition on the sale of fresh lamb and beef meat to grocery retailers in the State.
Ultimately, it said: “It is apparent to the CCPC that there will remain a sufficient number of competitors in each of the potential markets considered, and that Dawn Meats and Kildare Chilling are not particularly close competitors in any of these potential markets. As a result, the CCPC has determined that the proposed acquisition will not substantially lessen competition and can be put into effect.