Canned, frozen vegetable merger cancelled after Competition Bureau push

Canada's Competition Bureau is pleased that a proposed merger between two major frozen and canned vegetable companies will not move forward. Nortera, a Canadian-based processor and marketer of vegetables, was set to acquire Green Giant and le Sieur brands from U.S.-based B&G Foods. The merger, which was announced last year, was cancelled after the Competition Bureau raised concerns that it would harm competition in the Canadian market and lead to higher prices for consumers.

The Bureau had previously submitted a request to the Competition Tribunal to block the merger, citing the risk to competition and the potential for increased prices for staples such as frozen mixed vegetables and canned corn. The Bureau's investigation found that the acquisition would have resulted in less competition, higher prices, and fewer choices for consumers in the wholesale supply of canned and frozen vegetables.