London, August 5, 2025 — The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has escalated its review of Aramark’s acquisition of Entier to a Phase 2 investigation, citing potential risks to competition in the offshore catering market.
Aramark, a U.S.-based global food services giant, acquired a 90% stake in Entier, a Scottish catering and facilities management firm, in January 2025. Entier, headquartered near Aberdeen, reported a 2024 global turnover of approximately £83 million, with £70 million derived from UK operations.
Both companies are key providers of catering and support services to the UK North Sea energy sector, serving offshore oil and gas platforms as well as wind farm installations. Their services include supplying food, housekeeping, and ancillary support to workers based offshore.
Following a Phase 1 review, which concluded on July 22, 2025, the CMA found that the merger could substantially reduce competition, potentially leading to higher prices or reduced service options for offshore energy companies that rely on on-site catering services for personnel stationed at sea.
Since no Undertakings in Lieu (UILs) were offered by Aramark or Entier to address these concerns, the CMA has referred the deal for a full Phase 2 investigation. This deeper inquiry will be conducted by an independent panel of experts and may take several months to complete.
The CMA has stated that more detailed concerns can be found in its Phase 1 decision summary, and ongoing updates will be available on the Aramark/Entier case page.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/north-sea-catering-merger-set-for-in-depth-investigation
