Competition Board fines 16 yeast companies

The Competition Board imposed an administrative fine of 109 million 298 thousand 154.61 lire on 16 companies that operate in the production and distribution of fresh yeast.

According to the announcement on the Competition Authority’s website, the investigation carried out to determine whether the companies operating in the sector in question violated the Law for the Protection of Competition by agreeing on prices and sharing customers, has concluded.

WHAT COMPANY WAS HOW MUCH A FINE?

As for Lesaffre Turquie Mayacılık Üretim ve Ticaret AŞ, one of these companies, the investigation concluded with a compromise and an administrative fine of 73 million 851 thousand 619 lire was imposed on the company.

Another investigated company, Mauri Maya Sanayi AŞ, was found to have violated the Law by ensuring the implementation, coordination, continuity and control of agreements on pricing or customer/region allocation between companies operating in the distribution of fresh yeast, and a fine was imposed. imposed on the company.

In the framework of the investigation, no administrative fines were imposed on Pak Gıda Üretim ve Pazarlama AŞ, the other producer of fresh yeast.

Companies that operate in the distribution of fresh yeast were also included in the investigation.

According to this; Adatepeler Maya Gıda San. Limited Trade. Sti., Barut Gıda, Batug Industrial Food Industry and Trade. Limited. Şti., Çınar Mayacılık Food, agriculture, soft drink industry and trade Ltd. Sti., Delice Turka Mak. Food industry and ICT. Limited. Sti., Güldemirler Ticaret, Hamra Pazarlama Ahmet Şen, Haskat Gıda Pazarlama Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti., Kılınçoğlu Maya and Gıda Pazarlama Tic. Singing. Limited. Sti., Mag&Pa Gıda Maya Fırın Mlz. sun. iml. Singing. and Foreign Trade. AŞ, Motus Food Marketing Industry and Trade Ltd. Sti., Muratlar Bakery Solutions Maya Gıda San. and Foreign Trade Ltd. Sti., Öztürk Maya Gıda Toptan Paz. Limited. sti. and cleaning products and gasoline Shk Gıda Tarım. Singing. Limited Trade. sti. It was decided that the titled companies violated the Law.

As a result of the investigation, an administrative fine of 35 million 446 thousand 535 liras was imposed on 15 companies, including a yeast producer and 14 distributors, while the total amount of the fines was 109 million 298 thousand 154 with the fine imposed on yeast. Producer Lesaffre Turquie Mayacılık Üretim ve Ticaret AŞ, which requested a commitment, was in lira.

Operating in the distribution of fresh yeast, Çize Gıda Pazarlama Ltd. Sti., Gucbir Food Textile Tourism Construction Art and Nak. AS, Olucum Alimentos Paz. Limited. Sti., Orkide Altın Dünyası Kuy. Cons of the food Guy. crew. day. cons. Estate. Limited. Sti., Özpak Gıda Paz. Singing. and tick. Limited. Sti., Özpak Gıda San. and tick. AŞ and Uludüz Gıda Paz. Singing. Limited Trade. sti. On the other hand, it was decided that an administrative fine could not be imposed.

BAKERY COMPLAINTS, INVESTIGATION TAKES 2 YEARS

Competition Commission Chairman Birol Küle stated that the investigation lasted two years with a very intensive and meticulous working process against 3 yeast producers and 21 yeast traders, recalling that in the past they conducted investigations in this sector and imposed fines.

Noting that the bakers’ complaints towards the market unfortunately continued in the period after the final, Küle used the following statements:

“In short, anti-competitive behavior in the yeast market has been on our radar for many years. We follow it meticulously. The full investigation will have major consequences for Türkiye.

It has been revealed that some companies that operate in the yeast market, in order to obtain large profits, engage in anti-competitive behavior that will cause an increase in the cost of bread. The research, unlike in previous years, took a comprehensive look at the market and examined in detail both the actions of yeast producers and traders and the activities between producers and traders.

‘REVEALED THE STRUCTURE OF THE POSTER’

Küle stated that it was determined that 14 yeast traders agreed among themselves to determine the yeast price and share the yeast market based on customers, and that two companies operating in the yeast production market ensured the implementation and control of the agreements between these distributors on the determination of prices and the distribution of markets, and said:

“This structure, which is defined as a cartel in competition law, has been revealed by the careful work of our institution.”

It noted that during the investigation process, more than 100 on-site inspections were carried out with yeast producing and distributing companies throughout Turkey, from Izmir to Erzurum, from Istanbul to Konya, from Muğla to Şanlıurfa and Trabzon. As a result of the investigation, it was decided to impose 109.3 million administrative fines on 16 companies, 14 of which were merchants.

‘SENSITIVITY IN BASIC FOOD INGREDIENTS WILL CONTINUE’

Küle affirmed that the investigation is of great importance in terms of not impeding the access of yeast, which is the basic raw material for bakers, who are small producers, and said:

“The investigation has removed the anti-competitive barriers that prevent bakers from buying cheap, high-quality yeast from the producers they want. This cartel, which harmed bakers through customer and price sharing agreements, was ended with the meticulous efforts of our Institution.

We have never allowed nor will we allow those who covet our bread, those who try to play with the people’s bread. Our institution has clearly demonstrated its sensitivity to staple foods not only in bread but also in other research.

Any anti-competitive training that prevents the public from accessing basic food products cheaply and easily is taken seriously.

Research continues in sectors such as eggs, honey, milk and dairy products and beverages in our institution.

It should be known that any action and behavior that covets the consumer’s bread and budget will not be tolerated.

In the next period, as the Competition Authority, we will continue to carry out the functions assigned to us by law, maintaining our sensitivity regarding the people’s access to basic foods.” (AA)