The three major players in the grocery industry – Kiwi-owner Norgesgruppen, Rema and Coop – were fined billions of dollars earlier this week, after engaging in illegal price collusion. It is how, how quickly and how often the three have collaborated to share each other’s prizes through so-called prize hunters, the supervisory authority is reacting to. Must stop with the same Even though all three were ordered to stop with this with the same decision they received on Wednesday, Kiwi owner Norgesgruppen was out early and said they refused. – They cannot cooperate in allowing each other their prize hunters in the way we have described in the decision. It applies from the day the decision is made, says competition director Tina Søreide to news, and refers to section 12 of the Competition Act. – We have broad authority to formulate what is needed to get a competition problem to end. From left, Communications Director Margrethe Gudbrandsen, Competition Director Tina Søreide and Magnus Reitan of the Norwegian Competition Authority on Wednesday presented their findings and their decision in the investigation into the consumer goods industry. Photo: Thomas Fure / NTB Could mean new fees – But the three players have disagreed with the decision and say they will appeal. Do they still have to stop this right away? – It is the companies’ responsibility to find out how they will comply with this decision. Our experience is that the business community listens to what we say, and if we meet when there is a question of an order for termination of employment, we will normally see that it has an effect. – The Norwegian group says they do not want to quit. What do you think about it? – I don’t need to speculate so much about it now. When they look at the decision, they may find that this is a problem they want to take seriously. Then we may have to deal with the problem when it arises, says Søreide. If they do not stop using the bounty hunter practice, as described in the decision, it could mean a new breach of the law. In the extreme, this could lead to the Norwegian Competition Authority opening a new case which could result in additional fees, according to what news understands. Has nothing more to add Communications Director in Norgesgruppen, Stein Rømmerud, is adamant that they will continue to use prize hunters. – If we are to compete for the lowest prices, we must know what the prices in the market are, says Rømmerud. The Norgesgruppen have been clear that they have not broken the law, and have appealed the decision from the supervisory authority to the Competition Complaints Board. Published 23.08.2024, at 16.49
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The Norwegian Competition Authority will take new measures if the food chains do not drop prize hunters – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
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