Competition watchdog drops challenge to Kerry takeover of Breeo

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has dropped its Supreme Court challenge to Kerry Group's takeover of Breeo Foods, seven years after the deal went through.

Kerry bought the convenience foods business, originally spun off from Dairygold, in 2009. The Competition Authority had blocked the deal but the High Court annuled the regulator's ruling, allowing it to go ahead.

The Competition Authority began an appeal and the Supreme Court was due to hear that at the end of this month,

However, the CCPC, that agency took over from the authority in 2014, confirmed that it has dropped the appeal.

“Following the latest review of the case, taking all the circumstances of this case into account, particularly the passage of time since the High Court judgment, the CCPC has decided not to proceed with the appeal to the Supreme Court,” it said.

Kerry did not comment beyond confirming that the Breeo takeover went ahead and that it has since been integrated into the larger group.