Spanish food group Grupo SOS and retailer El Corte Ingles are among seven companies that have been ordered to pay heavy fines for price-fixing on olive oil brands between 2002 and 2005.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The Spanish high court has ordered Grupo SOS to pay EUR2m (US$2.8m) for price-fixing on its Carbonell and Kopeisol brands and allowing seven other supermarkets chains to do the same.
The retailers – El Corte Ingles, Dia, Eroski, Caprabo, El Corte Inglés, Alcampo, Carrefour y El Árbol – were ordered to pay EUR1.7m in total with Dia given the highest fine of EUR338,000.
In a statement the court said the parties agreed to sell the products at a minimum price.
A Grupo SOS spokesperson, however, said the firm did not do anything wrong and confirmed it plans to appeal the court’s decision.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe other parties would not return messages or comment.
Consumer group OCU, which filed the original complaint in 2002, has said it may file a separate suit to request compensation for consumers.
