Three grocery giants in Norway fined for illegal price collaboration

Three major players in the Norwegian grocery retail sector—Norgesgruppen, which owns Kiwi, along with Rema and Coop—were handed billion-kroner fines earlier this week for engaging in illegal price collaboration. The focus of the investigation was on how, how quickly, and how frequently the three companies shared information regarding each other’s prices through a practice known as “price hunting.”

Despite receiving an order to cease this activity immediately after the decision was announced on Wednesday, Norgesgruppen was quick to declare its denial of any wrongdoing.

“They cannot collaborate to enable each other’s price hunters in the manner described in the decision. This applies from the date the decision was made,” noted competition director Tina Søreide.

The three companies have expressed disagreement with the decision and plan to appeal. When asked if they must comply with the order despite the appeal, Søreide emphasized that it is the companies’ responsibility to determine how to adhere to the ruling. She added that businesses generally respond to regulatory demands and can be expected to comply promptly.

Norgesgruppen’s communications director, Stein Rømmerud, maintained that they intend to continue employing price hunters, stating, “To compete for the lowest prices, we need to know the market prices.” Norgesgruppen has consistently asserted that it has not violated any laws and has filed a complaint against the regulatory decision. If the companies persist in the contested practice, this could result in further legal breaches and additional fines.