Giant fine for the Biedronka chain: UOKiK uncovers price-fixing
The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has imposed record financial penalties on the owner of the Biedronka store chain, Jeronimo Martins Polska. The total sum of the sanctions exceeds 570 million PLN. This decision is the result of a long-term investigation into unfair market practices.
According to the office, the Biedronka chain participated in a price-fixing scheme concerning transport services. Twenty-nine transport companies and eight individuals were also involved in the case. According to the investigators' findings, these entities allegedly colluded to set terms of cooperation, which restricted fair competition in the food transport market.
UOKiK emphasizes that such actions are unacceptable because they can lead to increased logistics costs, and consequently, to higher product prices on store shelves. The office noted that the gathered evidence clearly points to an agreement aimed at eliminating competition among the carriers cooperating with the chain.
Representatives of Jeronimo Martins Polska have already announced the possibility of appealing this decision in court. This case is one of the largest fines imposed by the Polish antitrust authority in recent years and has sparked a broad discussion on the standards of cooperation between large retail chains and their subcontractors.