The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has imposed fines exceeding 2.5 million euros on four companies—Laarakker, VanRijsingen, Veco, and Verduyn—for colluding in the production, processing, and sale of carrots and Parisian carrots. These companies had entered into agreements that restricted competition for a period of ten years, ultimately harming consumers and businesses in the market.

The illegal agreements included a 2008 written contract where Veco agreed to refrain from producing, processing, and selling regular carrots, while Laarakker, VanRijsingen, and Verduyn agreed to avoid producing, processing, and selling Parisian carrots. Financial compensation was exchanged between the companies as part of this arrangement, which ACM discovered through tip-offs and subsequent dawn raids.

Martijn Snoep, Chairman of ACM, emphasized the importance of competition, stating that such market-sharing agreements deny buyers the benefits of competitive pricing and quality. The companies involved have acknowledged their violations and cooperated with the investigation, leading to reduced fines for Laarakker and Verduyn, who reported their illegal conduct to ACM.

ACM's enforcement actions are aimed at ensuring fair market practices, and the authority encourages companies involved in illegal agreements to come forward for leniency, which can result in reduced fines or complete immunity for the first company to report.