Japanese fair trade officials raid 6 ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing
Authorities suspect the six firms coordinated price increases by email and meetings over several years, with retail hikes of 5% to 10%, reports said.
- On Tuesday, the Japan Fair Trade Commission searched six major ice cream makers in TOKYO over suspected antimonopoly law violations involving suggested retail prices.
- The six firms—Meiji Co., Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Lotte Co., Ezaki Glico Co., Morinaga & Co., and Akagi Nyugyo Co.—allegedly coordinated ¥10 price increases through information exchanged among executives over several years.
- Japan's frozen dessert market reached a record ¥663.1 billion in fiscal 2025, while officials are investigating whether firms used inflation to justify excessive price hikes beyond cost increases.
- The commission will analyze seized materials and interview relevant individuals to determine violations, marking the first investigation into an ice cream price cartel. Glico confirmed it is under investigation.
- Although suggested retail prices are not binding, retailers often use them as guides when setting shelf prices. The commission previously sanctioned Haagen-Dazs Japan Inc. in 1997 for pressuring retailers to maintain prices.
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33 Articles
Associated Press News
Japanese fair trade officials raid 6 ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing
Six major Japanese ice cream makers have been raided by the government fair trade watchdog officials on suspicion of price fixing.
The authorities suspect that six companies have agreed to take advantage of food inflation in order to raise the prices of their products The Japanese authorities have raided six of Japan's largest ice cream companies for their alleged collusion to raise the price of their products, which has provoked the indignation of the Japanese, who are facing a very hot summer. Members of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) carried out on Tuesday search…
Six large companies in the sector are suspected of having agreed to raise their prices, beyond what was justified by the surge in costs and raw materials.
Japan's competition authorities raided six major ice cream manufacturers suspected of unlawful price cartels As the summer approaches, a period of pleasure for manufacturers
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