The Competition & Markets Authority is investigating the proposed sale of The Famous Grouse by Edrington to William Grant & Sons.
In a short notice issued today (29 January), the CMA said it was considering whether the transaction would “result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services”.
The competition regulator was inviting “comments on the transaction from any interested party”, it added.
The deadline for the CMA to announce whether it intends to refer the merger for a “phase 2” investigation is 27 March 2025.
Approached by The Grocer, William Grant & Sons declined to comment further.
The supplier announced in September it had reached an agreement to acquire The Famous Grouse and the Naked Malt brand from Edrington subsidiary The 1887 Company.
If greenlit, the deal will see William Grant & Sons add to a scotch portfolio that already includes the Grant’s and Monkey Shoulder blends, as well as single malts Glenfiddich and The Balvenie.
Edrington, meanwhile, is planning to exit blended scotch entirely to focus on upmarket single malts like The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Highland Park, as well as other posh spirits including Brugal rum and Wyoming whiskey.
Sales of The Famous Grouse fell 2.2% last year, on volumes down 8.5% [NIQ 52 w/e 7 September 2024]. The brand remains the largest scotch whisky in the UK off-trade, however, with sales of £206.8m.
The only spirits brands with greater sales value in retail were Smirnoff, Gordon’s and Jack Daniel’s.
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