Japanese fair trade officials raid 6 ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing
Authorities suspect the six firms coordinated price increases by email and meetings over several years, with retail hikes of 5% to 10%, reports said.
- On Tuesday, the Japan Fair Trade Commission searched six major ice cream makers in TOKYO over suspected antimonopoly law violations involving suggested retail prices.
- The six firms—Meiji Co., Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Lotte Co., Ezaki Glico Co., Morinaga & Co., and Akagi Nyugyo Co.—allegedly coordinated ¥10 price increases through information exchanged among executives over several years.
- Japan's frozen dessert market reached a record ¥663.1 billion in fiscal 2025, while officials are investigating whether firms used inflation to justify excessive price hikes beyond cost increases.
- The commission will analyze seized materials and interview relevant individuals to determine violations, marking the first investigation into an ice cream price cartel. Glico confirmed it is under investigation.
- Although suggested retail prices are not binding, retailers often use them as guides when setting shelf prices. The commission previously sanctioned Haagen-Dazs Japan Inc. in 1997 for pressuring retailers to maintain prices.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Have six Japanese ice cream producers made illegal price agreements with each other, and officials from the local antitrust authorities are investigating this suspicion. Five of the companies confirmed the search of their offices.
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Japan’s Antitrust Watchdog Raids Six Major Ice Cream Makers Over Alleged Price-Fixing Scheme
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Japanese fair trade officials raid 6 ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing
Six major Japanese ice cream makers have been raided by the government fair trade watchdog officials on suspicion of price fixing.
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