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Shufersal and Strauss: suspicions of price-fixing

Israeli watchdog raids supermarket chain Shufersal and food group Strauss

Officials reportedly search offices, seize computers and documents, and question top executives; Knesset source says crackdown came following suspicions of price-fixing.


suspicions of price-fixing


In a regulatory filing in Tel Aviv, Shufersal said its corporate offices were searched, computers and documents were taken and the company's chief executive was questioned.

Strauss, a maker of snacks, fresh food, and coffee, also said materials were taken, and senior and other company officials were questioned.


The competition authority separately said it had opened an investigation and is looking at a number of suppliers and chain stores on suspicion of breaches of competition law. It did not provide further details.


A source on the Knesset's Finance Committee said that the raids came after suspicions of a price-fixing rose following senior officials from both companies warning of rising prices in interviews they gave to the media.

In a statement, Shufersal said: "The company acts in accordance with the law and will cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities."


A Strauss representative was not immediately available for further comment.

Israeli media has reported that Shufersal, the country's biggest supermarket chain, was offering a website with discount prices for the ultra-Orthodox sector, prompting protests from the larger secular population. The website has since been shut down, Shufersal said.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange briefly halted trade in both companies. After trade resumed, shares of Strauss and Shufersal were down 2.8% and 1.9% respectively.



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