UPDATE 1-EU Commission antitrust inspectors raid two French retailers
The European Commission said its antitrust inspectors had raided the premises of two companies active in the French grocery retail sector earlier this week, on concerns that they broke EU antitrust rules prohibiting cartels. "The Commission has concerns that two grocery retail companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive businesses practices," it said on Wednesday.
French retailer Casino had said earlier that EC agents visited its Paris headquarters this week, but did not provide further details. Le Figaro newspaper reported that EC agents also raided the headquarters of French rival Intermarche, but the company could not be immediately reached for comment.
"Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigatory step into suspected anti-competitive practices," said the European Commission in a statement. "The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself," it added.
There is no legal deadline to complete inquiries into anti-competitive conduct. Their duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of each case and the extent to which the companies concerned cooperate with the Commission. Casino and Intermarche announced in 2014 a purchasing alliance in France that was dissolved last year when Casino and France's Auchan sealed a global buying deal.
France has seen a flurry of purchasing alliances in recent years as supermarkets battle to keep prices down to counter fierce competition from rivals offering prices at discounts and the looming shadow of U.S. internet giant Amazon.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- European Commission
- Electoral Commission
- Election commission
- Reducing agent
- Special agent
- Talent agent
- Ameristar Casinos
- Station Casinos
- Online casino
- Tana French
- French verbs
- French braid
- Warren Commission
- Royal commission
- Great Commission
- Corporate headquarters
- Golf Headquarters
- United Nations Headquarters
- agents
- antitrust inspectors
ALSO READ
French supermarket chain Casino to axe jobs in overhaul
France's DGAC warns of cancelled flights at French airports due to strike
Nadal Expresses Uncertainty About Madrid and French Open Participation Amidst Fitness Concerns
Tennis-Osaka doing her homework on clay ahead of French Open
Macron aims to cement French influence in EU, lift party fortunes with landmark speech