Netherlands Blocks Zwanenberg from Buying Unilever's Unox Brand
The Dutch competition authority rejected the sale of Unilever's Unox brand to Zwanenberg after concluding that the deal would give the buyer a market share of up to 85%.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) refused to grant Zwanenberg Food Group permission to purchase the Unox soup and sausage brand from Unilever, as reported by Reuters via MarketScreener on October 27, 2026.
The authority stated that the deal would have given Zwanenberg a share ranging between 60% and 85% in the relevant Dutch markets, and that the commitments offered by the company to address competition concerns were insufficient.
Unilever expressed great disappointment with the decision, stating that it will review the ruling.
The decision prevents the deal from proceeding in its current form, meaning the Unox brand will remain under Unilever's ownership for the time being.
What do these terms mean?
Authority for Consumers and Markets: The Dutch regulatory body responsible for protecting competition and consumers, which reviews mergers and acquisitions.
Market Share: The percentage of a company's sales out of total sales in a specific market, used to measure its competitive strength.
Competition Commitments: Obligations submitted by companies to address competition concerns, such as selling assets or maintaining certain terms, in exchange for approval of the deal.
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