Ferrero today (15 April) confirmed the privately owned food giant is the subject of anti-trust inspections by the European Commission.
On Monday, Brussels announced it had carried out “anti-trust” inspections at the premises of an unidentified chocolate company in two EU member states.
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Just Food had asked the Commission to confirm the identity of the company concerned and its country of origin, as well as the sites involved in the inspections and the timing. The request was declined.
In a brief statement, Luxembourg-headquartered Ferrero, home to brands including Kinder Bueno and Nutella, said: “Ferrero is aware that on-site inspections are currently taking place in its offices by European Commission officials. The Company is fully cooperating and providing the information requested.”
The company, which generated a turnover of €19.3bn in the year to 31 August, declined to answer Just Food’s questions on the reasons for the inspections.
In Monday’s statement, the Commission said: “The Commission has concerns that the inspected company may have violated EU anti-trust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices, as well as abuses of a dominant market position.”
The Commission added it was “investigating possible market segmentation in the form of restrictions on the trade of goods between member states in the single market and obstacles to multi-country purchases”.
However, outlining the procedures for such investigations, Brussels emphasised there was no conclusion of guilt with respect to the unidentified company at this stage.
“Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigatory step into suspected anti-competitive practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the company is guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself,” the Commission said.
In 2024, Cadbury and Milka owner Mondelez International was fined by the Commission in 2024 for breaching EU regulations for “hindering cross-border trade” in an investigation dating back to 2021.
At the time, Mondelez acknowledged it had reached a “settlement” with the European authorities.
