CTindex - Christian Today UK Interactive Catalogue
Society

OFT fines dairy firms, supermarkets 116 mln stg

Britain's consumer affairs watchdog said on Friday it had fined dairy and supermarket groups, which admitted fixing milk, butter and cheese prices, 116 million pounds ($235 million).

Posted: Friday, December 7, 2007, 8:18 (GMT)
Font Scale:A A A

LONDON - Britain's consumer affairs watchdog said on Friday it had fined dairy and supermarket groups, which admitted fixing milk, butter and cheese prices, 116 million pounds ($235 million).

The Office of Fair Trading said it was continuing to pursue Britain's biggest supermarket group, Tesco, smaller rival Morrison and diary firm Lactalis McLelland.

In September the consumer watchdog said it had found evidence that the supermarkets and their suppliers had colluded to hike dairy product prices between 2002 and 2003, costing Britain's consumers around 270 million pounds.

The OFT said it had reduced fines for supermarkets Asda, Safeway (in relation to conduct prior to its acquisition by Morrison) and J Sainsbury and dairy companies Dairy Crest, Robert Wiseman and The Cheese Company, because of their cooperation.

Dairy processor Arla got off without a fine after it reported the price fixing practices.



© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
Have your say on this article
Christian Aid
Google Advertisement
Externally generated - Report offensive links here
Outreach Calendar
World Headline
No sign of India violence subsiding, says ministry

No sign of India violence subsiding, says ministry

More than a week after the outbreak of violence in Orissa, the situation is getting worse with no sign of subsiding,...
Google Advertisement
Externally generated - Report offensive links here