INDIA: Pantaloon "ends Cadbury pricing row"

By: just-food.com | 23 June 2008

India's Pantaloon Retail has reportedly ended its boycott of Cadbury products.

According to a report in Indian newspaper Economic Times, a number of high-level meetings between the two companies resulted in a deal that will see Pantaloon returning Cadbury's confectionery products to its shelves.

Pantaloon chains Food Bazaar and Big Bazaar stopped stocking Cadbury products to protest against "discretionary treatment", alleging the confectionery giant offered better deals to international retailers with larger global footprints.

"We've discovered that other retailers especially those of foreign origin seem to be getting much more friendlier terms of trade," Food Bazaar CEO Sadashiv Nayak told just-food earlier this month.

Cadbury rejected these accusations, stating that separate deals were struck in each market and linked to local sales.

While the boycott of Cadbury has drawn to a close, it is understood that terms of trade between the companies are yet to be finalised.

Sectors: Confectionery, Emerging markets, Retail

Companies: Cadbury, Pantaloon Retail