CMA requires Aramark to sell Entier after finding competition concerns

The Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined that Aramark should unwind its buy of Entier, following an in-depth investigation which discovered that the deal harmed competitors within the UK for offshore catering and amenities administration companies for infrastructure property situated within the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Aramark, a worldwide meals and amenities administration supplier, acquired 90% of Entier, a number one British catering firm primarily based in Aberdeen, in January 2025. Each corporations provide offshore catering and associated companies to grease and gasoline platforms and different infrastructure within the UKCS and the North Sea.

The CMA’s impartial panel concluded that the deal mixed two of three main suppliers within the UK.

Offshore infrastructure operators contemplate offshore catering important to their operations and workers morale. This merger reduces the selection out there to those prospects.

Proof from present prospects and different opponents confirmed that Aramark and Entier are thought of very sturdy suppliers, with most prospects anticipating to ask each corporations to tenders for upcoming contracts for the UKCS. The panel discovered that different opponents had been unlikely to supply sturdy sufficient options to the Aramark-Entier merged entity within the subsequent two years.

In consequence, the CMA decided that the merger would result in a considerable lessening of competitors, doubtlessly resulting in larger costs or diminished high quality for purchasers for offshore catering companies for the UKCS.

Aramark selected to not supply a treatment and withdrew an preliminary treatment proposal. The panel however thought of a spread of attainable cures, together with partial divestments, however concluded that solely the sale of Entier to an authorised purchaser would successfully tackle the competitors considerations.

Richard Feasey, chair of the impartial panel investigating the merger, mentioned:

Individuals working within the offshore oil and gasoline fields face extremely troublesome working circumstances at sea, so preserving them fed and sorted is important – that’s why efficient competitors for these catering companies is so necessary.

Our investigation discovered that this deal would go away prospects of those companies with very restricted alternative, making it more durable for them to get the most effective worth and high quality. We assessed all of the choices out there which may resolve our considerations and restore competitors. We discovered the one efficient approach of reaching this was requiring Aramark to promote Entier.

The CMA now has 12 weeks to both settle for Last Undertakings from Aramark, or to make a Last Order requiring Aramark to promote Entier to an acceptable CMA-approved purchaser.

Extra data might be discovered on the Aramark / Entire box page.

Notes to editors

1. Following its in-depth investigation, the CMA concluded that the merger has resulted, or could also be anticipated to end result, in a considerable lessening of competitors out there within the UK for the availability of offshore catering and ancillary amenities administration companies to prospects for offshore infrastructure property within the UKCS. The CMA didn’t discover a substantial lessening of competitors out there for the availability of offshore catering and ancillary amenities administration companies to prospects for marine property within the North Sea (together with the UKCS).
2. In the course of the investigation, after the CMA had issued its interim report (24 October 2025), Aramark submitted a treatment proposal to handle the CMA’s provisional competitors considerations set out within the interim report. The CMA consulted publicly on 11 November 2025 on a spread of attainable cures, together with Aramark’s proposed treatment. Aramark subsequently withdrew its treatment proposal.
3. The CMA’s resolution in its remaining report (15 January 2026) is that Aramark should promote its shareholding in Entier Restricted. This requirement doesn’t apply in relation to Entier Australia Pty Ltd, which holds all of the property and workers utilized by Entier to serve its contracts in Australia.
4. The UKCS is an space designated by legislation. It contains the seabed and subsoil past the UK’s territorial sea over which the UK workouts sovereign rights to discover and exploit pure assets. It’s bordered by the seas of a number of nations, together with Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. The UKCS contains components of the North Sea, but in addition components of the North Atlantic, Irish Sea and the English Channel.
5. For media enquiries, contact the CMA press workplace on 020 3738 6460 or press@cma.gov.uk.