The Latvian Competition Authority has launched an investigation into alleged cartel behavior between two of the largest food retail companies in Latvia, one of which is Maxima. During the investigation, conducted on February 26, search operations were carried out at the premises of these companies. The authority reported that there are indications of a prohibited agreement between the companies, which may have coordinated the pricing of goods, thus harming consumer interests.

Cartels, defined as horizontal agreements between competitors, are considered some of the most serious violations of competition law. If such a violation is confirmed, it can result in significant penalties, potentially up to ten percent of the global turnover of the companies involved in the previous fiscal year. This situation highlights the seriousness of compliance with competition laws in the retail sector, where pricing practices can significantly impact consumers.

The investigation aims to establish whether any illegal agreements exist and what specific actions the involved parties have taken. The Competition Authority emphasized that official violations will only be determined at the conclusion of the investigation, after a comprehensive evaluation of all collected information is completed. This case emphasizes the importance of market competition integrity and the regulatory efforts to maintain it in Latvia’s retail landscape.