South African food producer RCL Foods has received regulatory approval for its R695 million acquisition of pet food and pet care company Martin & Martin, as the group looks to expand its presence in the country’s growing pet food market.
The Competition Commission approved the proposed transaction subject to conditions, bringing RCL Foods closer to adding brands including Bob Martin, Husky, Beeno and Pamper to a portfolio that already includes some of South Africa’s most recognisable food brands.
RCL Foods, which owns brands including Ouma Rusks, Selati, Yum Yum, Nola and Number 1 Mageu, first announced the Martin & Martin transaction in March.
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Under the agreement, RCL Foods will acquire Martin & Martin from Simrose Overseas S.A for R695 million.
RCL Foods pushes deeper into pet food
The acquisition represents a significant expansion of RCL Foods’ pet business.
RCL already participates in the market through a portfolio focused largely on dry pet food, including Bobtail, Canine Cuisine, Catmor and other brands.
Martin & Martin gives the group greater exposure to wet pet food, biscuits, treats and other pet care products.
When the deal was first announced, RCL Foods CEO Paul Cruickshank said the acquisition would allow the company to expand into parts of the pet food market where its presence remained limited.
The company identified changing consumer behaviour, including increased spending by owners on the health and wellbeing of their pets, as one of the factors making the sector attractive for further investment.
Martin & Martin manufactures and sells wet dog and cat food, biscuits, treats and pet care products under brands including Husky, Pamper, Beeno and Bob Martin.
Conditions attached to the deal
The Competition Commission’s approval comes with conditions intended to address competition and public-interest concerns arising from the transaction.
These include protections around employment and manufacturing, as well as requirements affecting co-manufacturing and access to production capacity.
When RCL Foods initially announced the transaction, the companies said no job losses were anticipated as a result of the acquisition and that Martin & Martin would continue operating from its existing facilities.
RCL said the acquisition would support the continuation and development of local manufacturing capacity while allowing the group to integrate selected capabilities over time.
Deal comes during difficult year for RCL Foods
The expansion comes as RCL Foods navigates a difficult trading environment.
For the year ended June 2026, the company reported weaker earnings as pressure in parts of the business, particularly sugar, weighed on its performance.
The company’s interim results had already pointed to the pressure building during the financial year. For the six months ended December 2025, revenue fell 1.9% to R13.3 billion, while headline earnings declined 30.1% to R681.8 million.
Despite the challenging environment, acquisitions form part of RCL Foods’ strategy to build scale and increase the contribution of value-added branded products to its portfolio.
The Martin & Martin transaction would give the company established brands and additional manufacturing capabilities in categories where it sees room for growth.
Once the remaining conditions to the transaction are fulfilled, Martin & Martin will become part of a group whose brands are already found across millions of South African households.
