Brussels, 06/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 April, the European Commission fined the Spanish company Riberebro nearly €5.2 million for its involvement in a cartel to coordinate prices and divide up clients on the preserved mushrooms market in Europe.
On the basis of an in-depth investigation which began in June 2014, the Commission concluded that the Spanish fresh and preserved vegetables company Riberebro had, between September 2010 and February 2012, been involved in the cartel, which had already seen three producers - Bonduelle, Lutèce and Prochamp - fined €32 million (EUROPE 11108).
The cartel was for sales of packaged mushrooms in metal tins or jars (not including fresh or frozen mushrooms), via calls for tender to retailers and wholesalers and under a distributor's brand name, within the European Economic Area. It aimed to stabilise the market shares of the participating companies and to stop price cuts, the Commission states in a press release. In order to achieve this, the companies exchanged confidential information regarding the calls for tender and set minimum prices, agreed on their volume targets and shared out the customers between them. The cartel consisted of a non-aggression pact together with a compensation mechanism in the event of client transfers and the application of minimum prices agreed previously.
The fine of €5.194 million, which was calculated in line with European rules, was ultimately halved to reflect Riberebro's cooperation with the investigation. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)