EU antitrust regulators have commenced preliminary examination concerning Coca Cola Co, the European Commission said on Friday.
“We can affirm that the Commission has conducted surveys, as a component of its preliminary examination concerning Coca Cola,” a Commission representative said.
“The fundamental examination is progressing. We can’t remark on or anticipate its planning or result,” she said, declining to give further details.
Coca Cola said it got a standard request for data on Thursday.
“While we will co-work completely with the Commission, it would be unseemly for us to remark further while the interaction is on-going. We keep European competition law, just as other pertinent laws and guideline,” a Coca Cola representative said.
Lobbying group EuroCommerce, whose members include Carrefour, Ikea and Tesco said the business practices of some huge worldwide brands were a worry to retailers and wholesalers.
“We have for a long time highlighted the issues our area faces with the producers of ‘must-have’ items utilizing their market ability to force one-sided conditions and limit rivalry for their potential benefit,” EuroCommerce Director General Christian Verschueren said in a release.
German media Lebensmittelzeitung was quick to report about the EU examination.
