France · Competition
Why France assessed sugar beet and industrial sugar at different scales
France cleared Cristal Union’s acquisition of Lesaffre Frères in August 2025. The authority assessed sugar beet buying near the Nangis factory and industrial sugar supply across a market extending beyond France.
Sources checked
- 01Follow the beet to the factory
The regulator examined supply near Nangis because beet is perishable and transport adds cost. Source 1
- 02Compare industrial sugar suppliers
The authority included rivalry from France and neighbouring countries. Source 2
- 03Check the other product separately
The decision also considered molasses, a by-product of sugar production. Source 1
- 04Read the clearance outcome
The authority authorised the acquisition without conditions. Source 2
The authority examined the local supply of beet and the wider market for the processed product.
Beet buyers are tied to local processing
The regulator explained that factories tend to be near growing areas because sugar beet is perishable and relatively expensive to move. Its investigation found an average collection distance of about 30 kilometres. The nearest existing Cristal Union plant was more than 80 kilometres from Lesaffre’s Nangis factory. Source 1 Source 2
Industrial sugar reaches a larger market
The authority assessed production and sales of industrial sugar at a scale extending beyond France. It cited the end of sugar production quotas in the 2017 to 2018 campaign as one reason for revisiting its earlier national market approach. Source 2
The authority considered competing groups abroad
The clearance summary lists competing sugar groups including Südzucker, Tereos, Nordzucker and Pfeifer & Langen. The authority concluded that the combined company would continue facing competition from significant groups in France and neighbouring countries. Source 2
The outcome followed several product tests
The full decision also records a combined share below 25% in molasses production and an increase below two percentage points. The authority ultimately cleared the acquisition without conditions. Each conclusion concerns a specified product and geographic scope. Source 1 Source 2