Goodman Takes Over River Mill Bakeries

By PERRY, Kate

Goodman Fielder plans to review the bread and flour assets it is buying from River Mill Bakeries when it takes over the business in the next few weeks.

The Commerce Commission yesterday cleared the Australasian food firm to buy Huntly’s River Mill Bakeries, saying the purchase would not lessen competition in the market.

River Mill is privately owned, with a production plant in Huntly, plus a flour mill in Ashburton.

A Goodman spokesman said the company would review both the Huntly and Ashburton businesses once it takes over River Mill.

The commission approval was the last regulatory hurdle for the purchase, but a few small matters still need to be settled between Goodman and the seller.

River Mill makes bread, small goods, pizza bases, frozen goods and cookies. Goodman’s bread brands in New Zealand include Vogel’s, Molenberg, Nature’s Fresh and Golden Bake. This is Goodman’s third recent acquisition, after purchase of the Arnott’s biscuit business in Papua New Guinea.

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