OFT to investigate tobacco manufacturers and retailers over retail price practices
The OFT has issued a statement of objections alleging that certain tobacco manufacturers and retailers have engaged in unlawful practices in relation to retail prices for tobacco products in the UK.
The statement of objections sets out the OFT’s proposed findings against tobacco manufacturers Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher, and eleven retailers – Asda, the Co-operative Group, First Quench, Morrisons, Safeway, Sainsbury, Shell, Somerfield, T&S Stores, Tesco and TM Retail. The OFT alleges that these tobacco manufacturers and retailers variously engaged in one or more unlawful practices in relation to retail prices for some or all of a number of tobacco products in breach of the Competition Act 1998.
The alleged practices comprised:
1. Arrangements between each manufacturer and each retailer that restricted the ability of each of these retailers to determine its selling prices independently, by linking the retail price of a manufacturer’s brand to the retail price of a competing brand of another manufacturer. The alleged infringements span different periods for different parties between 2000 and 2003, and
2. In the case of Gallaher, Imperial Tobacco, Asda, Sainsbury, Shell, Somerfield and Tesco, the indirect exchange of proposed future retail prices between competitors. The alleged infringements span different periods for different parties between 2001 and 2003.
John Fingleton, OFT Chief Executive, said: ‘For markets to work well for consumers, it is a fundamental principle that pricing decisions should be made independently. If we find evidence of anti-competitive activity, we are prepared to use the appropriate powers to punish the companies involved and to deter other businesses from taking part in such behaviour. ‘If proven, the alleged practices would amount to a serious breach of the law.’
