Competition and Markets Authority

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK's primary competition regulator. It works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK. The CMA investigates mergers, markets, and conduct that could harm competition. Recent news highlights the CMA's active role in addressing potential anti-competitive practices across various sectors. Currently, the CMA is investigating Associated British Foods' (ABF) planned takeover of Hovis, a move that would combine two of the UK's largest bread brands. This investigation aims to determine if the merger would reduce competition in the sliced bread market. Additionally, the CMA's work is relevant in the context of a £1.5bn legal action against Apple over Apple Pay's alleged anti-competitive practices and hidden fees. The CMA's scrutiny underscores its commitment to ensuring fair competition and protecting consumer interests in a rapidly evolving market landscape, including the digital economy.