Proposed bread mergers ‘would leave Northern Ireland with just two commercial bakeries’
The proposed acquisition of Hovis Group by Associated British Foods “threatens competitive conditions for the bread market in Northern Ireland”, regulators have said.
And if the merger, first announced last August, does go ahead, it will leave Northern Ireland with just two large-scale commercial bakeries, where there was once nine.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is probing the deal for ABF bakeries (which owns Sunblest and Kingsmill) to acquire Hovis, which is currently owned by Leeds-based private equity firm Endless, and whose brands include Mothers Pride and Ormo.
If approved, the enlarged ABF would control 80% of the Northern Ireland market in pancakes, 60% of soda farl sales and nearly half of potato bread, which are all staples in the traditional Ulster fry.
The proposed acquisition of Hovis Group by Associated British Foods “threatens competitive conditions for the bread market in Northern Ireland”, regulators have said.
And if the merger, first announced last August, does go ahead, it will leave Northern Ireland with just two large-scale commercial bakeries, where there was once nine.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is probing the deal for ABF bakeries (which owns Sunblest and Kingsmill) to acquire Hovis, which is currently owned by Leeds-based private equity firm Endless, and whose brands include Mothers Pride and Ormo.
If approved, the enlarged ABF would control 80% of the Northern Ireland market in pancakes, 60% of soda farl sales and nearly half of potato bread, which are all staples in the traditional Ulster fry.
We don't eat much bread, but it's not difficult to bake bread which is superior to most supermarket loaves, especially stuff like Mothers Pride.
Using a decent bread maker makes it even easier, I can do it.
We continue to debate buying a bread maker. My wife worries that we lack enough vacant horizontal surface in the kitchen. Maybe we should do without the fruit bowl and the bottles of cooking booze and non-alcoholic cordials. But then they'd need to be found a home elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteIf we put them on the chest-of-drawers in the hall, then the books there ...
dearieme - ours is an old Panasonic inherited from my wife's mother, but it is still very good at turning out a variety of loaves. It must be about 20 years old, but modern versions don't seem to be much different apart from having more recipes available.
ReplyDeleteI suppose nipping across the border is an alternative? But ordinary bread is hardly worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteDitto for the Panasonic, bought 20 +/- yrs ago.
ReplyDeleteSuperb fresh bread, we set ours up on the timer so fresh bread for breakfast.
IF the ingredients worries people are correct, at a minimum it isn't going to do any harm to make proper bread from the traditional basic ingredients.
I've read both France & Italy are quite strict on ingredients & no preservatives, so it doesn't last, which has the side effect of keeping lots of small bakeries open so people can pick up bread when passing instead of supermarket.
I've heard USian bread stays the same for 2 weeks.
We bought a bread-maker a few years ago, and while the ordinary white loaf is a bit insipid, if malted flour and a bit of honey is used, it makes a great 'country' 'sort' of brown bread, which lasts for ages!
ReplyDeleteIt's also superb for a decent, rich, fruit cake! The marmalade turned out pretty well too! I'm all for using one, then immediately have a brainstorm and buy several Hovis white loaves, 'for a change'...
We don't eat much bread, so I just tend to buy the cheapest (Not Tescos own though, it's not nice). I like a good sandwich in a decent bread occasionally, but the second half of the loaf always ends up in the freezer for months until we've had a few bits of occasional toast.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested to see what happens if the merge is just allowed to take it's course. I'd like to see if a company achieved a monopoly, would the prices really go up or down, in the real world. Would be a good science experiment
DJ - yes, hardly worth the effort unless it's good bread anyway, but there are loads of simple bread recipes on YT.
ReplyDeleteNessimmersion - M&S do bread rolls with only 9 ingredients all of which look innocuous to me. We buy them occasionally and keep them in the freezer. Supermarket bread does keep for a suspiciously long time though. We buy a Tesco sliced loaf to keep in the freezer because we eat so little. The preservative is calcium propionate which seems okay to me.
Scrobs - fruit cake eh? I haven't tried that although I've made a fruit loaf which is very good, using dried fruit and spices.
Bucko - we don't eat much either, just M&S bread rolls and a Tesco sliced seeded loaf we keep in the freezer. Lasts for ages. I imagine the prices will go up if there is a monopoly, but possibly not by much as another outfit might see an opportunity. Yes it would be interesting.
We've enjoyed a brand of bread rolls called Fitzgerald's. Anyhoo - the big question. Do bread makers make good banana bread?
ReplyDeletedearieme - I make banana bread in the airfryer (not having a bread maker). Turns out quite well. Have recipes for other types of bread and fruit cakes, but not tried them yet.
DeletePenseivat
dearieme - our bread maker has a recipe for banana bread, but it only cooks the mixture, it doesn't do the mixing and kneading. I haven't tried it though.
ReplyDeletePenseivat - ah, we have an air fryer so I'll look at that.
ReplyDeleteI discovered a new, forgotten Panasonic bread maker in my utility room, just as I was thinking about making my own bread, which I now do every week. Has the benefit of being able to control the ingredients, like I don't include sugar. My usual loaf is wheat with 20% rye flour. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteTammly - yes, controlling ingredients is one of the attractions. Can't remember if I've tried rye flour or not, must give it a go.
ReplyDelete