Heineken ordered to compensate Greek rival for abusing market dominance
A Dutch court ruled that Heineken must pay damages to Greek brewer MTB for abusing its market power in Greece.
In a decision handed down in Amsterdam, Heineken was ordered to compensate Greek competitor MTB for a prolonged period of market abuse. The court determined that Heineken's subsidiary AB had secured exclusive supply agreements with Greek retailers, barring them from offering rival beers and inflating prices by limiting choice. This conduct, spanning from 1998 to 2014, caused MTB to lose income and accrue lost interest.
The ruling specifies a damages package covering both direct revenue loss and interest, while dismissing Heineken's claim that the actions were no longer actionable due to the passage of time. Earlier, Greek competition authorities had already fined AB for similar violations.
Why it matters
The case highlights enforcement of EU competition rules and could affect how multinational brewers operate in smaller markets.
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