Four Australian fresh food producers have been accused of acting as a cartel when supplying to ALDI over a six-year period.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said civil proceedings had commenced in the Federal Court against the suppliers and three senior executives for alleged price fixing while supplying fresh vegetables to supermarket chain, in breach of Australia’s cartel laws.
Ms Cass-Gottlieb said the alleged cartel conduct involved price fixing in the supply of fresh produce, including broccoli, cauliflower, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, Brussels sprouts and zucchini, to ALDI stores in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland between 2018 and 2024.
She said the ACCC alleged cartel conduct by Perfection Fresh Australia, Hydro Produce (Aust), Veli Velisha Fresh Produce and Velisha National Farms, its Director and Chief Executive Catherine Velisha, and its Senior Sales Manager Kaushik Vora, and M. Fragapane & Sons, and its General Sales Manager Roberto Nave.
“Cartel conduct, whether by coordinating prices or agreeing on terms of bids with competitors, is anti-competitive, and is illegal.
“Businesses acting together instead of competing can drive up prices and harm consumers, while disadvantaging other businesses that are seeking to compete fairly.”
