BUCHAREST (Romania), September 10 (SeeNews) – Romania's competition regulator said on Thursday it has launched separate investigations of four of the country's main food retailers over suspected fostering of unfair competition by setting up cartel agreements with suppliers.
The competition regulator said in a statement it has launched investigations of the following companies, who collectively account for 40% of the local retail market:
- Metro Cash & Carry Romania, real,-Hypermarket Romania, MGB Metro Buying Group, all part of German group Metro, and their suppliers;
- Selgros Cash & Carry and Billa Romania, both part of Germany’s Rewe, and their suppliers;
- Mega Image and its suppliers;
- CDE R Interex and its suppliers.
"Price competition is the most important element of an open market economy. In case that any practice [of any form of obstruction or limiting of price competition] is confirmed, the Competition Council will sanction the respective wrong-doer, and the respective behaviour will be prohibited on the market,” the council’s president, Bogdan Chiritoiu, said in a statement.
The regulator also said it could impose a fine equal to up to 10% of the respective company's turnover.
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