The European Commission has fined two of three companies involved in a cartel for private-label canned and jarred mushrooms from 2010 to 2012.
French group Bonduelle has been hit with a fine of EUR30.2m for fixing prices. Dutch firm Prochamp faces a penalty worth EUR2m.
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Brussels gave Lutèce, also of the Netherlands, immunity from what would have been a EUR20.7m fine, given it blew the whistle on the cartel’s existence.
The fines for Bonduelle and Prochamp were reduced by 10% each for acknowledging their liability. Prochamp received an additional 30% for co-operating with the investigation.
Commenting, Joaquín Almunia, the EU competition commissioner, said: “The cartel … covered sales to retailers throughout Europe for more than a year … potentially, all consumers may have been affected.”
The companies admitted they worked together to keep prices from falling by exchanging confidential information on tenders and setting minimum prices.
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By GlobalDataThe Commission has also accused Spain’s Riberebro of participating. Inquiries into its alleged role continue.
