The Concurrence Council levied fines totaling nearly €35m against four major food retail networks and 21 suppliers operating on the Romanian market for pricing agreements made between 2005 and 2009.
Metro Cash & Carry was fined €11.3m and Selgros was fined €6.6m. Mega Image, meanwhile, was fined €5.6m and Real Hypermarket was fined €5.5m. Suppliers like Danone, Albalact, Napolact, Quadrant-Amroq Beverages and Star Foods were fined approximately €6m, according to local news reports.
Concurrence Council representatives said the product prices were not established based on supply-demand. The council found that suppliers and retailers set a fixed or minimum price for the products. Under this arrangement, according to the council, sales promotions could also not start simultaneously in different retail chains but rather would alternate based on agreements made between suppliers and retailers.
