Horizontal integration
Also called: integrate horizontally
ELI5
Combining with a similar business in the same part of the market.
Used in conversation
“The merger is a horizontal integration play.”
Definition
Expansion through combination with or acquisition of businesses at the same stage of a value chain.
Here “Horizontal integration” means: Expansion through combination with or acquisition of businesses at the same stage of a value chain.
Pitch context
You will see “Horizontal integration” in strategy decks, market analyses, business plans and planning workshops when the discussion reaches strategic choices & advantage.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret strategic choices & advantage without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Sources & evidence · 5
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Value Proposition Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- LEANSTACK — Lean CanvasSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division — Herfindahl-Hirschman IndexSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business and economy dataSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16