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The European Commission has paused its investigation into Mars’ $36bn takeover of fellow food giant Kellanova while awaiting data requested from the companies, according to a Reuters report.

The takeover – which is set to be the biggest acquisition yet for Mars following its 2008 $23 billion acquisition of Wrigleys – was first announced in 2024. If completed, it will bring a wide range of huge household brands such as Pop Tarts, Rice Krispies, Pringles and Twix under the same ownership.

The European Commission acts as the antitrust watchdog for the EU, aiming to ensure fair competition in the market and protect consumers from impacts such as inflated prices.

It began a full-scale investigation into the potential merger last month to assess its potential impact. The Commission has expressed concerns that it could result in increased prices for consumers due to Mars’ enhanced negotiating power with retailers, with Mars already having a high market share across certain products in some EU countries.

According to Reuters, the Commission wrote in an email: “The 'clock' in merger investigations can be suspended if the parties fail to provide, in a timely fashion, an important piece of information that the Commission has requested from them within a prescribed deadline”.

The investigation will reportedly now resume with a new decision deadline once the relevant information has been submitted, extended from 31 October previously.

The proposed acquisition was approved by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in June 2025 following an extensive antitrust review process, involving stakeholders across the supply chain including major retailers.

The FTC concluded that there was no violation of antitrust laws, clearing the transaction to proceed without further restrictions. However, under EU merger regulations, the acquisition still must be approved by the Commission before it completes.