The Compleat Food Group completes acquisition of Greencore Bristol sauces and soups site

The Compleat Food Group has completed the acquisition of Greencore’s sauces and soups business in Bristol, following approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The transaction follows Greencore’s £1.2bn acquisition of rival chilled food manufacturer Bakkavor, which is due to complete on 16 January 2026 after clearing its final regulatory hurdle with the CMA. As part of that process, the UK competition watchdog confirmed on 17 December 2025 it had accepted Greencore’s agreement to sell its Bristol soups and sauces plant as a sufficient remedy to concerns the deal could reduce competition in the own-label chilled sauces market.

The Bristol operation employs approximately 300 people at its 50,438sq ft production facility and produces a range of own-label chilled sauces and soups for major UK retailers. All staff will transfer to The Compleat Food Group and be retained, with operations at the site continuing as normal.

The acquisition strengthens Compleat’s ambition to become the UK’s number one chilled prepared food company and further extends its capabilities in chilled sauces and soups. It builds on the group’s acquisition of Zorba Foods in 2024, as well as more recent deals including Freshpak and The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co.

Nick Field, CEO at The Compleat Food Group, said:

We’re excited to welcome the Bristol team to The Compleat Food Group. This acquisition marks an important step in expanding our expertise in chilled sauces and soups, two categories with strong growth potential.

By combining this capability with our existing portfolio, we can deliver even greater value for our retail partners and continue to innovate in creating Food to Feel Good.”

With this addition, The Compleat Food Group’s total turnover reaches £1.4bn. The business now employs more than 6,300 people across 18 sites and supplies leading UK retailers and foodservice providers with a broad range of own-label and branded chilled foods spanning pastry, sweet bakery, party food, eggs, continental meats, dips, sauces and plant-based products.

Regulatory background

The divestment of the Bristol site was central to resolving competition concerns raised during regulatory scrutiny of the Greencore-Bakkavor deal. The CMA had warned in October that Greencore’s acquisition of Bakkavor risked a “substantial lessening of competition” in own-label chilled sauces, including pasta and stir-fry sauces. While its Phase 1 investigation, launched on 1 September, found no issues across most other product categories, chilled sauces emerged as a key area of concern.

In its findings, the watchdog said only Two Sisters Food Group and Billington Foods would provide “material” competition following the merger, but stressed both rivals were “weaker” than the parties involved.

Greencore’s divestment of the Bristol soups and sauces site addressed those concerns. The business generated revenues of approximately £47m in the year to 26 September 2025, accounting for around one percent of the combined Greencore and Bakkavor group’s revenues.