UK watchdog probes alleged price fixing at supermarkets
Britain’s competition watchdog is investigating allegations of price fixing at the country’s largest supermarkets, a newspaper reported.
By Agencies |
LONDON: Britain���s competition watchdog is investigating allegations of price fixing at the country���s largest supermarkets, a newspaper reported. The Sunday Telegraph said Tesco, Wal-Mart���s Asda, J Sainsbury and Morrison Supermarkets were among those targeted by Britain���s Office of Fair Trading. The paper said the supermarkets��� offices ��� and those of their suppliers ��� were raided by officials examining allegations that they colluded to fix the prices of groceries, health, and beauty products.
The report was carried in a preview of Sunday���s paper made available late Saturday. The Sunday Telegraph did not cite a source for the information, and the Office of Fair Trading declined comment.
���We don���t comment when we���ve got an investigation under way,��� a spokeswoman for the office said. She spoke anonymously in line with government policy. Tesco denied any wrongdoing, saying in an e-mail statement that it was surprised by the allegations. A spokeswoman for Sainsbury���s declined to comment, while no one picked up the phone at press offices for Asda or Morrison.
The Office of Fair Trading has taken a hard line on anti-competitive practices in recent years. In the past two weeks alone the regulator accused tobacco companies and several major retailers of colluding on cigarette prices and named more than 100 construction companies in a major investigation into bid-rigging. The office can give warnings or orders, but also has the power to take legal actions or impose financial penalties.
Last year the office fined a group of supermarkets and dairy firms, including Asda and Sainsbury���s, more than ��116 million after they admitted fixing prices on dairy products.
The same year, the office also fined British Airways ��121.5 million after the airline admitted to colluding with rival Virgin Atlantic over fuel surcharges on long-haul flights.
The report was carried in a preview of Sunday���s paper made available late Saturday. The Sunday Telegraph did not cite a source for the information, and the Office of Fair Trading declined comment.
���We don���t comment when we���ve got an investigation under way,��� a spokeswoman for the office said. She spoke anonymously in line with government policy. Tesco denied any wrongdoing, saying in an e-mail statement that it was surprised by the allegations. A spokeswoman for Sainsbury���s declined to comment, while no one picked up the phone at press offices for Asda or Morrison.
The Office of Fair Trading has taken a hard line on anti-competitive practices in recent years. In the past two weeks alone the regulator accused tobacco companies and several major retailers of colluding on cigarette prices and named more than 100 construction companies in a major investigation into bid-rigging. The office can give warnings or orders, but also has the power to take legal actions or impose financial penalties.
Last year the office fined a group of supermarkets and dairy firms, including Asda and Sainsbury���s, more than ��116 million after they admitted fixing prices on dairy products.
The same year, the office also fined British Airways ��121.5 million after the airline admitted to colluding with rival Virgin Atlantic over fuel surcharges on long-haul flights.
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