The Polish competition authority, UOKiK, has raised allegations against five companies and one individual involved in the purchase of soft fruits in the Greater Poland region. The investigation suggests that these businesses may have unlawfully coordinated prices, leading to local farmers selling their products at artificially low rates for three years.

UOKiK's President, Tomasz Chróstny, stated that evidence was gathered during searches at one of the companies, indicating that the businesses exchanged pricing information, which they then applied to their suppliers. The suspected collusion may have occurred between 2022 and 2024.

The companies involved include Fructis, Damex, Silver-Trans, Kam Pol, and Kalbrok, with charges also directed at a manager from Fructis. Chróstny emphasized that while price imitation is permissible, coordinating prices with competitors constitutes illegal price-fixing.

UOKiK has been monitoring the soft fruit market for years, noting that price adjustments by purchasing points often align with larger processing companies. However, identical low prices across multiple locations do not automatically indicate collusion. The authority is currently analyzing data collected during the investigation to determine if illegal agreements were made.

Penalties for participating in anti-competitive agreements can reach up to 10% of a company's turnover, while individuals responsible for such collusion may face fines up to 2 million PLN. UOKiK has also conducted inspections at major processors and purchasing entities to verify potential price-fixing at various levels of trade.

To mitigate penalties, UOKiK offers a leniency program for companies involved in illegal agreements, allowing them to reduce or avoid fines by cooperating with the authority. Interested parties can contact UOKiK for more information on this program.