The European Union regulators ended their investigation into collusion allegations between French supermarket chains Casino Guichard Perrachon SA and Intermarche, following a recent ruling in favor of the companies by the top court of the bloc.
The investigation by the European Commission has been closed following the nullification by the EU Court of Justice of the commission’s 2017 antitrust raids on supermarkets’ premises due to procedural issues.
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The court determined that officials were required to record their interviews with suppliers in order to use them as evidence of any misconduct.
The European Commission had accused the companies of breaking EU rules by creating a buying alliance that allowed them to negotiate better deals with suppliers and pass on the savings to consumers. But the Court of Justice said the Commission had not provided “sufficient proof” that the companies had breached antitrust rules.
