Competition's hazelnut investigation has expanded

The investigation carried out for the free and fair formation of hazelnut prices, which is the source of income for 400 thousand families, has deepened.

In the statement on the Competition Board's website, it was stated that the preliminary investigation carried out on the enterprises operating in the field of purchasing/selling hazelnuts was completed, and said, "As a result of the preliminary investigation, it was determined that the Law on the Protection of Competition No. 4054 (Law No. 4054) was violated by determining hazelnut purchase prices and hazelnut purchasing policies in a coordinated manner and affecting the price formation in the hazelnut purchasing market." An investigation has been launched to determine whether the incident was committed.

However, within the scope of the investigation; "It will also be examined whether the commitments made about Ferrero, which were made binding for the enterprise by the Board decision dated 07.03.2024 and numbered 24-12/213/87, have been complied with."

Which companies are being investigated?

Atalay, Balsu, Ferrero, Karaçuha, Ofi, Özyılmaz and Şenocak are among the enterprises examined. Organisation; It will investigate in all its dimensions whether the leading buyers of the market determine the hazelnut purchasing prices and policies together, and whether they force the producers to sell cheaply by artificially suppressing the prices.

Ferrero's compliance with the commitments it made in 2024 is also under investigation. The company had undertaken not to purchase below the TMO reference price in order to protect the producer against a price drop, and to purchase at least 45 thousand tons of hazelnuts in the September-December period, when the producer needed cash the most.

In its statement, the Competition Authority said, "It is determined to protect the real value of the product that our farmers collect with great difficulty. Hazelnuts will never be allowed to be sold cheaply by buyers, and heavy administrative fines will be imposed on companies that are found to be in violation."