Frucor gains antitrust approval to buy Simply Squeezed

Tuesday 25th August 2009

Frucor Beverages, the local unit of Japan’s Suntory Holdings, gained regulator approval to acquire rival juice business Simply Squeezed.

Frucor is New Zealand’s second-largest non-alcoholic drink company in New Zealand after Coke bottler Coca-Cola Amati, with brands including Just Juice, Fresh Up, Arano, Citrus Tree and McCoy. Hawkes Bay-based Simply Squeezed producers Simply Squeezed, Allganics, Supreme Country Style and Bay Harvest brand drinks.

Commerce Commission Chairman Mark Berry said the regulator is satisfied that the acquisition won’t substantially reduce competition in the national market for fruit beverages.

Suntory is currently in talks with larger Japanese rival Kirin Holdings for a merger that would create Japan’s largest drinks company.

Businesswire.co.nz

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