GERMANY: Huge cartel fines for Aldi, Metro and Rewe | Progresiv
A number of German supermarket chains - namely Aldi, Edeka, Kaufland, Metro and REWE - have been found guilty of price deals on food and cosmetics. Alongside several manufacturers, the joint fine reached 151.6 million euro. 
According to the German anti-trust authority, the deals started in 2010 and when they came to light, the Kartellamt raided at least 15 companies. The Kartellamt feels manufacturers applied heavy pressure to force minimum prices for coffee and sweets among other things.
Supermarket chains Aldi, Edeka, Kaufland, Metro and REWE (who jointly control 85 % of the market) were not the only ones involved as pet food stores Fressnapf and Das Futterhaus were also part of the scheme. Several manufactures like Haribo, Ritter and Johnson Johnson were also fined, while coffee machine maker Melitta got off the hook for its cooperation in the dismantlement of the price deals. (www.retaildetail.eu)
