Peppes and Dolly have received a final rejection on pizzafusjon – E24

(E24) Published: 14:02 – 20.01.2017, Updated: 15:21 – 20.01.2017

Serveringskonsernet Umoe Restaurants and Norgesgruppen have worked to merge pizzagigantene in almost two years.

Now næringsministeren given his final answer, writing to the ministry of Trade and ministry of fisheries in a press release.

– Ministry and Konkurransetilsynets consideration is that a merger will create significant restrictions of competition, called it in the message.

the Ministry says thus agree with the Competition authority that the merger should be prohibited.

Too close to the competitors

In september last year approved the Competition authority to stop the Umoe Restaurants acquisition of Dolly Dimple’s. Serveringskonsernet complained about the decision, but now, it is clear that the ministry also endorses the part of the authority’s decision.

In the press release shows that competition authorities have considered the parties to be close competitors that offer similar products.

Johannson-the family buys up in the Coop

– A merger will therefore invalidate the competition between the two, and this will motivate to increased prices. Other participants in the industry will have little opportunity to discipline the new entrant, it is stated in the message.

Disagree in the assessment of the market

On its website, type Umoe Restaurants that they do not recognize themselves in the view of the restaurantmarkedet and the conditions of competition to which the decision applies.

– We are still in disagreement in the understanding of the restaurantmarkedet in general and pizzamarkedet especially, and think it is a pity that the process has taken so long and had negative outcomes, ” says Sverre Helno, president and ceo of the Umoe Restaurants.

Maeland about Rema-case: – Swap shop if you are unhappy

We take however, the decision to intelligence, and both parties should now work individually to create two competitive concepts further.

Serveringskonsernet Umoe Restaurants, which owns Peppes Pizza AS, have around 350 restaurants and cafes in Scandinavia, and had a turnover of approximately three billion in 2015.

Dolly Dimple’s is owned by Norgesgruppen and has 41 outlets in the Uk. In 2015, they had a turnover of 327, 2 million.