Germany’s competition watchdog is looking at whether the country’s supermarkets using their buying power to force down prices from manufacturers.
Andreas Mundt, president of the Federal Cartel Office, stated that there was a strong public interest in the issue.
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Mundt said Germany’s four major food retailers – Aldi, Lidl, Edeka and Rewe – account for approximately 85% of the market. He added: “Given such a strong concentration, we must also take a closer look at the power relations between retailers and manufacturers.”
A spokesperson Federal Cartel Office added that the watchdog was looking at whether the retailers were “enjoying purchasing power over their competitors”.
The spokesperson also confirmed that it is also looking at the buying power of major retailers at a “European level”.
The Federal Cartel Office added that it will began a fresh investigation if the inquiry suggests that domestic competition may be “restricted or distorted”.
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By GlobalDataRewe, Aldi and Lidl were not available for comment. Edeka refused to comment.
