The Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) has discovered a cartel among the main Italian producers of savory snacks for large-scale retail trade (GDO), fining three operators a total of over €23 million. The measure specifically affects the private label segment, which is increasingly important in modern retail product assortments.
Specifically, the Antitrust Authority imposed fines of €8,24 million on Amica Chips, €7,55 million on Pata, and €7,50 million on Preziosi Food, which were held liable for an agreement restricting competition in violation of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
According to the ruling, the three companies allegedly entered into a secret, single, and ongoing agreement aimed at dividing the supply of savory snacks produced on behalf of large-scale retail outlets. Specifically, the coordination concerned commercial policies and bid management, with the goal of avoiding direct competitive confrontation in tenders and negotiations with retailers.
The agreement resulted in a veritable division of customers, through mechanisms such as convenient offers, refusal to participate in tenders, or declarations of production unavailability, thus favoring the "designated" supplier from time to time. At the same time, an exchange of sensitive information between the companies was also discovered, particularly regarding prices and the conditions applied to large-scale retail trade.
Another factor highlighted by the Authority concerns a "non-aggression" pact between some operators, aimed at avoiding aggressive commercial initiatives towards customers already served by other competitors, effectively reducing the contestability of the market.
The investigation highlighted how these practices developed over a long period of time, involving the sector's main players and impacting a growing market worth hundreds of millions of euros in the private label channel alone.
On the sanctions front, the Antitrust Authority applied the leniency program, granting Amica Chips and Pata a reduction in fines for their cooperation during the investigation, which was crucial in ascertaining the infringement.
Furthermore, for the first time since its introduction, the settlement procedure provided for by national legislation was successfully activated, allowing for a further reduction in fines in exchange for the companies involved acknowledging their responsibilities.
The case sends a strong signal to the consumer goods sector, particularly the private label supply chain, where competitive pressure and the growing influence of large-scale retail trade make compliance with antitrust regulations crucial.
For modern distribution, the measure highlights the importance of ensuring transparency and competition in supplier selection processes, especially as private labels continue to gain market share and strategic importance.
