Source:  Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 5/3/11

The Justice Dept.’s Antitrust Division has dropped its investigation on the proposed acquisition of Coleman Natural Foods by Perdue Farms Inc.’s parent company, FPP Family Investments.

Antitrust regulators ruled that they could not prove that the acquisition of the Golden, Colo.-based antibiotic-free and organic chicken by FFP/Perdue will harm market competition. The decision followed an information-gathering effort that included interviews with customers, poultry processors and more than 100 chicken growers.

Investigators determined that the merger’s addition of a region that would compete with another major chicken processor in Fredericksburg, Md., for chicken grower services would not lead to coordinated efforts that could cause problems in terms of competition. They added that they will continue to work with the USDA on holding joint workshops to hear about competition issues from market participants in a continuation of a program launched in 2010.

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