In November last year, Baiada Poultry tabled an offer for the Bartter-Steggles brand, sparking an immediate ACCC review into the proposal.

The ACCC later blocked the plan, ruling it was anti-competitive and would severely reduce competition in the Victorian wholesale chocken market. But a move by Baiada to divest a number of its Victorian assets has paved the way for the buy-out. An acquisition date has not yet been set and neither Baiada or Bartters management would comment on the ACCC decision.

The news comes amid reports Bartters has had a shake-up of its afternoon shift and told 34 casual workers regular work cannot be guaranteed. It is believed no permanent positions will eb lost.

State organiser of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union Mark Perkins will meet with Bartters management this morning to discuss the changes.

Meanwhile, ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel has outlined his reasons for allowing the takeover to proceed.

"The ACCC decided that the three national chicken processors – Baiada, Bartter and Ingham – supply the vast majority of customers who buy very large volumes of processed chicken (such as supermarkets and fast-food restaurants) and are each other's closest competitors," he said.

To address the ACCC concerns, Baiada offered a court-enforceable undertaking that upon acquiring Bartters it would sell all assets currently owned by Bartters in Victoria.