The Commerce Commission has received an application from Bluebird Foods Limited seeking clearance to acquire from Hansells (NZ) Limited all the assets and brands used by Hansells in the manufacture and wholesale supply of:

• Potato chips, corn chips and other snacks under the Krispa, Aztec and Poppa Jacks brands; and

• House brand or private label products manufactured for supermarkets and other retailers.

Bluebird is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Australian-based food company Goodman Fielder Pty Limited. Bluebird currently supplies a number of salty snack brands such as Bluebird Originals, Kettles, Grainwaves, Burger Rings and CC's corn chips.

Hansells owns Future Foods Limited and jointly owns PLC (NZ) Limited with its parent company, Hansells Holdings Limited. In addition to the salty snack brands listed above, Hansells currently supplies a numbers of other products such as baking powders and essences, powdered drinks, instant desserts and cereal soups.

In considering the application, the Commission's role is to determine whether the acquisition has the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.

A public version of the application will shortly be available on the Commission's website under Public Registers.