Switzerland: Coca-Cola under fire for pricing practices

Coca-Cola Hellenic confirmed this week that it is facing an investigation by Swiss competition regulators over allegations the soda company is unfairly forcing a major retail chain into purchasing its products in Switzerland instead of other nations where those same products are less expensive.

Reports say the Swiss Competition Commission, known as WEKO, has sent a questionnaire to Coca-Cola to inquire about the allegations. Top grocery chain Denner says that it first began purchasing Coca-Cola products from the Czech Republic earlier this year because they are cheaper than those purchased within Switzerland.

Soon after, Denner says, Coca-Cola began prohibiting the retailer from purchasing those less expensive products; Coke’s bottlers in Germany, Austria, Italy and France began to refuse to do business with Denner to block its “parallel import” strategy.

The grocer also argues that the domestic prices are excessively high.

Denner said it is pleased that authorities are looking into the matter.

Full content: Beverage Daily

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