Norwegian grocery giants launch massive court battle over price-monitoring fines
Kiwi, Rema 1000 and Coop began a lengthy trial in Gulating Court of Appeal to contest multibillion-kroner penalties for illegal price-monitoring cooperation.
On Monday, lawyers for Kiwi, Rema 1000 and Coop opened a nearly ten-week trial in Gulating lagmannsrett, seeking to overturn hefty competition fines imposed for an illegal price-monitoring network. The dispute centers on a 2011 agreement that allowed employees to enter each other’s stores and record prices, a practice the regulator says gave the chains an unfair market overview and lifted prices. The supermarkets maintain the activity was standard market intelligence that benefited shoppers. The proceedings will include opening statements, a long roster of witnesses—including former CEOs, senior purchasing staff and academic experts—and expert economic analyses before a final judgment is expected in mid-December.
Why it matters
The outcome will shape how Norwegian retailers can gather competitive pricing data and could affect future competition enforcement.
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