European Commission fines food firms for fixing prices of canned mushrooms

The European Commission has fined French frozen / canned vegetable producer Bonduelle and Dutch peer Prochamp a total of €32.22m, after it was discovered that the firms fixed prices of canned mushrooms in Europe for more than a year.

Prochamp received a reduction of 30% for cooperating with the investigation, and both firms received further fine reductions of 10%, as they agreed to settle the case.

Bonduelle was fined €30.20m and Prochamp €2.02m.

Dutch producer Lutèce was also found to have participated in the fixing, but the company was not fined as it revealed the existence of the cartel to the Commission.

Commission vice-president in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: "The cartel for canned mushrooms, which aimed to avoid a fall in prices, covered sales to retailers throughout Europe for more than a year.

"This means that potentially, all consumers may have been affected. After the shrimp cartel at the end of last year, this is yet another cartel penalised by the Commission in the food sector, where it is essential to protect European consumers against anticompetitive practices."

The agreement between the companies covered sales of private label canned mushrooms, via tender procedures, to retailers and food wholesalers in the European Economic Area (EEA).

The companies exchanged confidential information on tenders, set minimum prices, agreed on volume targets and allocated customers, in order to stabilise their market shares and stop the decline of prices.

Canned mushrooms are sold in tins and jars, with the exception of fresh or frozen mushrooms.

The Commission also announced that proceedings were opened against Riberebro, in the context of the same investigation.