London, October 24, 2025 — The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally concluded that Aramark’s completed acquisition of Entier may substantially lessen competition in the market for offshore catering and facilities services for oil and gas installations on the UK Continental Shelf.
Following an in-depth investigation launched in August, the CMA found that the merger combines two of the three leading suppliers in the sector — alongside ESS — giving the merged company a combined market share of around 60%, with limited competitive alternatives available to customers. The authority noted that the market is highly concentrated and that barriers to entry or expansion remain significant, despite a few new entrants in recent years.
Close Rivalry Eliminated
The CMA’s tender analysis showed that Aramark and Entier had been close competitors, frequently bidding against each other and winning most contracts outside ESS. Customers indicated they routinely invited both firms to tender, underscoring their importance as rivals.
The watchdog said other suppliers lacked the scale or experience to exert strong competitive pressure in the UK offshore infrastructure market. It therefore provisionally found a substantial lessening of competition (SLC) in the supply of offshore catering and ancillary services to oil and gas platforms and rigs.
However, the CMA said it did not identify competition concerns in the marine catering market, where the parties’ combined share is smaller and several competitors — including Sodexo, Conntrak and Francois — are active. The market’s nascent nature and the prevalence of self-supply options were also cited as mitigating factors.
Next Steps
The CMA invited submissions by November 14, 2025, ahead of its final decision. Aramark and Entier must confirm by November 7 whether they intend to offer remedies to address the competition concerns.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/aramark-slash-entier-merger-inquiry
