A Nestlé ice cream promotion in Peru has backfired, creating widespread public ill feeling and leaving the company facing a possible fine.
Last month, D’Onofrio, Nestlé’s local producer, offered ice creams at one-third their normal price. However, many consumers were told stock had run out, or the offer only applied if they bought other, more expensive, ice creams.
Peru’s consumer rights body, INDECOPI (Instituto Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia y de la Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual) is currently investigating the issue.
INDECOPI said if the ‘any ice cream for 1 sol’ offer was breached, fines of PEN2.4m (US$770,465) could apply.
Nestlé apologised earlier this month, saying the shortage of cheaper ice creams was due to their popularity.
Peru’s 27m people consume an estimated 33m litres of ice cream annually.
