The Competition Authority has fined international retailers active in Romania with over EUR 35 million in fines, for price-fixing and anti-competition practices between IKAs and their suppliers, occurring between 2005-2009.
Metro, Real, Selgros and Mega Image are among the retailers in question, together with 21 suppliers, according to Romanian publication Magazinul Progresiv.
“The Competition Authority determined that the sale prices were not set according to market regulations, using the supply-demand ratio. Instead, the suppliers and retailers agreed on a fixed or minimum price. Such practices have lead to higher shelf prices for consumers, since the retailers were unable to reduce the price below a certain limit agreed upon with the suppliers”, according to a press release.
Fines were also enforced for unfair promotional practices, after authorities analyzed documents showing that some retailers and suppliers had included a contractual stipulation stating that suppliers were not allowed to organize simultaneous promotions in different retail chains. This, according to authorities, negatively impacted the end-users, who did not have real access to promotional offers and prices.
“It should have been up to the supplier to decide when and where to implement price promotions”, said members of the Competition watchdog.
Below is a list of companies and the respective fines applied.
Mega Image SRL – 24.569.530 lei (EUR 5.6milion)
Metro Cash&Carry Romania SRL– 49.684.182 lei (EUR 11.3 million)
Real Hypermarket Romania SRL–23.869.142 lei (EUR5.5 million)
Selgros Cash&Carry Romania SRL– 29.202.355 lei (EUR 6.6 million)
Agroalim Distribution SRL– 607.214 lei (EUR 138.000)
Albalact SA– 2.199.507 lei (EUR 499.888 )
Argus SA– 623.106 lei (EUR 141.615)
Covalact SA – 659.267 lei (EUR 149.833)
Cramele Halewood SA – 278.694 lei (EUR 63.340)
Danone PDPA SRL– 2.639.243 lei (EUR 599.828)
De Silva Intermed SRL – 31.753 lei (EUR 7.217)
Delaco Distribution SA– 910.047 lei (EUR 206.829)
Gerola Prodinvest SRL – 308.923 lei (EUR 70.210)
Granddis SRL – 327.157 lei (EUR 74.354)
Impex Bock SRL –5.751 lei (EUR 1.307)
Macromex SRL– 2.354.190 lei (EUR 535.043)
Napolact SA– 1.164.467 lei (EUR 264.652)
Parmalat Romania SA – 269.852 lei (EUR 61.330)
Prodlacta SA – 166.122 lei (EUR 37.755 euro)
Quadrant-Amroq Beverages SRL –3.193.541 lei (EUR 725.805)
Star Foods EM SRL – 1.953.160 lei (EUR 443.900 euro)
Transilvania General Import Export SRL – 4.693.436 lei (EUR1.1 million)
Tymbark Maspex Romania SRL – 1.646.923 lei (EUR 374.301)
Whiteland Import Export SRL – 2.324.484 lei (EUR 528. 292)
Zarea SA – 347.489 lei (EUR 78.975).