South African food retailers have been cleared of price collusion by the country’s competition watchdog, Business Day newspaper said on Friday.
In June 2009, the country’s watchdog launched an investigation into major supermarket chains over possible price fixing and other antitrust concerns.
It said at the time it was also concerned supermarket groups were exchanging price-sensitive information, which could hurt competition.
Business Day said on Friday the watchdog has quietly cleared South Africa’s supermarket sector of collusion.
Competition commissioner Shan Ramburuth told the newspaper that the investigation body had not finalised its report and could not say when it would announce a response.
The watchdog was investigating Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Massmart, Woolworths and Spar over concerns about possible anti-competitive behaviour.
“In our view the Competition Commission has done a very thorough review of the retail industry, and we will continue to work very closely with them on any outstanding issues,” Pick n Pay financial director Dennis Cope told the paper. – Reuters