Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJapaneses manufacturers, including Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, and Lotte are being investigated (AFP/Getty)Japan's Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has launched raids and inspections at six major ice cream manufacturers, including Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, and Lotte. The companies are accused of violating anti-monopoly law by allegedly colluding to fix and raise the retail prices of their ice cream and frozen desserts. It is alleged that since 2022, these firms have repeatedly increased prices by 5-10 per cent, potentially beyond what was justified by rising raw material costs. The JFTC suspects senior executives exchanged information through emails and in-person meetings to form a discreet cartel, agreeing on the timing and scale of price hikes. The implicated companies have confirmed the raids and pledged to cooperate with the investigation, which could result in substantial fines and mandated changes to their business practices. In fullJapan’s ice-cream giants face anti-trust heat over suspected cartel pricingThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Six ice cream makers in Japan investigated over price fix claims
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJapaneses manufacturers, including Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, and Lotte are being investigated (AFP/Getty)Japan's Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has launched raids and inspections at six major ice cream manufacturers, including Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, and Lotte. The companies are accused of violating anti-monopoly law by allegedly colluding to fix and raise the retail prices of their ice cream and frozen desserts. It is alleged that since 2022, these firms have repeatedly increased prices by 5-10 per cent, potentially beyond what was justified by rising raw material costs. The JFTC suspects senior executives exchanged information through emails and in-person meetings to form a discreet cartel, agreeing on the timing and scale of price hikes. The implicated companies have confirmed the raids and pledged to cooperate with the investigation, which could result in substantial fines and mandated changes to their business practices. In fullJapan’s ice-cream giants face anti-trust heat over suspected cartel pricingThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
