Concentration change in selected food manufacturing industries: The influence of mergers vs. internal growth

Abstract

Concentration of sales among the leading manufacturers changed sharply in some relatively undifferentiated food processing industries in the 1980s. In six industries examined, CR4 increased 23 points, on average, from 1977 to 1988. Mergers accounted for virtually all of the concentration increase in three, and roughly half of the increase in the other three. Overall, internal growth accounted for about one-third of the increase in concentration in the six industries. The relaxation of antitrust enforcement during the 1980s likely encouraged several large horizontal mergers that significantly increased concentration in these industries. At least seven mergers appear to have violated the Dept. of Justice Merger Guidelines of 1984.