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The Authority believes that the price cooperation between the chains has damaged the competitive situation and increased food prices for consumers.
Coop, Rema and Norgesgruppen have received a notification of NOK 21 billion in total fees for what the Norwegian Competition Authority believes is illegal price coordination between the chains.
The amount of the fee is record in the Norwegian context.
The Authority believes that the price search scheme for the chains has damaged competition in the market. They believe it may also have raised consumer food prices.
Bounty hunter investigated
– We take this type of coordination very seriously and have therefore announced that we are considering imposing an infringement fee, Competition Director Lars Sørgard says in a statement.
It was in 2018 that the Norwegian Competition Authority raided Coop, Norgesgruppen and Rema on suspicion of violating the Competition Law.
Suspicion was directed at the price search scheme, which was established through an industry standard in 2010. The scheme gives chains access to each other’s stores for a certain period of time each week.
– Our research shows that the practice of scanning prices in each other’s stores may have led the chains together to push prices up, says department director Magnus Gabrielsen at the Norwegian Competition Authority.
React strongly
The Authority intends to award Norgesgruppen the highest rate of NOK 8.7 billion.
It makes the food giant react strongly.
– Norgesgruppen categorically rejects that the industry standard and the use of price hunters is a violation of the Competition Law, communications director Stein Rømmerud tells E24.
– We think the price hunting business has led to lower prices and has been good for consumers, he says.
Coop and Rema have been notified of rates of 4.8 billion and 7.3 billion, respectively.
Coop calls the Authority’s reaction “absurd.” Rema has not yet responded to E24’s inquiries for comment.
