Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Charges stayed in Canada Competition Bureau price fixing case against chocolate manufacturers , (Sep 10, 2015)
Organizations Mentioned:Nestlé Canada Inc., ITWAL Ltd., Mars Canada Inc.
By Linda O’Brien, J.D., LL.M.
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) entered a stay of proceedings in the price fixing charges against chocolate manufacturers ITWAL Ltd., Mars Canada Inc., and two former company executives, Sandra Martinez and David Glenn Stevens, the Canada Competition Bureau announced today. The prosecution continues against Nestlé Canada Inc. and former Nestle executive Robert Leonidas.
The charges stem from an investigation launched in July 2007, after the Bureau was contacted by Cadbury Adams Canada Inc. under the Bureau’s Immunity Program. The Bureau’s investigation uncovered evidence that Nestlé Canada Inc., ITWAL Ltd., Mars Canada Inc., Leonidas, Martinez, and Stevens were allegedly involved in an agreement to fix the prices of chocolate confectionery products in Canada.
In June 2013, a direct indictment was issued by the PPSC against the three companies and three individuals accusing them of conspiracy under the Competition Act for their role in fixing the price of chocolate confectionery products in Canada.
As part of the same investigation, Hershey Canada Inc. pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of price fixing for chocolate confectionery products in Canada, and was fined $4 million. Hershey Canada Inc. has cooperated with the Bureau’s investigation.
Companies: Nestlé Canada Inc., ITWAL Ltd., Mars Canada Inc.
News: Antitrust