‘Yogurt cartel is facing fine’

A ‘YOGURT cartel’ of leading dairy product firms is said to be facing a stiff fine for price-fixing.

Companies including Senoble, Yoplait, Lactalis and Novandie, whose activities include making products that are sold under supermarkets’ own brands, are suspected of having plotted to fix prices and market share, Le Figaro says.

The French daily is basing its claims on an investigation by the Autorité de la Concurrence, about which it says it has seen a report.

The firms are said to have held meetings in places like ordinary provincial hotels, kept secret records, and used a phone number listed in the name of the partner of one of the participants.

“Exchanges of sensitive information” allowed leading industry firms, as well as some smaller ones like Laïta, Les Maîtres Laitiers du Cotentin and Alsace Lait, to “coordinate their pricing and commercial strategies”, it is alleged.

This reportedly included agreeing on price rises, when they would happen, and what reasons would be given for them.

The companies are said to have explained themselves to the authority, but without success, as it is reportedly preparing a fine.

However Le Figaro notes this is likely to be much less than the €361 million that was levied in 2011 on three makers of washing powders who were found to have been involved in price fixing and agreements on promotions, over a six year period.