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B&G Foods and Nortera have jointly terminated their previously announced deal involving Nortera’s acquisition of the Green Giant and Le Sieur brands in Canada.

The purchase agreement, entered into on 24 October 2025, would have seen Quebec-headquartered Nortera integrate Green Giant and Lie Sieur’s frozen and shelf-stable vegetable product lines in Canada into its portfolio.

Initially expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026, the deal was halted when Canada’s Competition Bureau asked the Competition Tribunal to block the merger in August this year following an investigation into its impact on competition within the Canadian vegetable market.

Now, B&G and Nortera have jointly released a statement confirming they are terminating the deal despite working ‘cooperatively and in good faith’ to seek the required approval under Canada’s Competition Act.

Nortera is a major processor of frozen and canned vegetables, operating 11 facilities across Canada and the US. The company has a workforce of nearly 3,000 people across North America, and processes more than 400,000 tonnes of vegetables annually in collaboration with over 500 growing partners.

Jeanne Pratt, interim commissioner of competition at Competition Bureau Canada, said: “Throughout our review, the Bureau carefully assessed the transaction’s likely impact on competition and consumers. Our investigation concluded that the acquisition was likely to lead to less competition in the form of higher prices and fewer choices in the wholesale supply of certain canned and frozen vegetables in Canada.”

Pratt emphasised that canned and frozen vegetables are everyday grocery staples relied on by Canadian consumers, highlighting the importance of preserving competition in the category.

The asset purchase agreement is therefore no longer in effect. B&G Foods will continue to own and operate Green Giant Canada, but Nortera Foods will continue its existing partnership with B&G as primary co-manufacturer for the brand.

Robert D Mills, president and CEO of B&G Foods, said: “Although we are disappointed that the transaction was not completed before the outside date, we remain highly confident in Green Giant Canada’s future”.

“We look forward to continuing to serve Green Giant Canada’s customers and consumers while pursuing initiatives to enhance profitability and unlock value. We intend to continue evaluating strategic and operational alternatives for Green Giant Canada, including potential sale transactions, strategic partnerships or other opportunities that may maximise value for shareholders.”

Erwan Hédiard, interim CEO and CFO of Nortera, said: “We are proud of our longstanding relationship with B&G Foods and of our strategic partnership in the production of Green Giant in Canada. We would also like to thank the teams at both organisations for their commitment and professionalism throughout this process.”