Police raid dairy headquarters

A raid in the second largest Austrian dairy NÖM, which started on 15 May, was terminated yesterday (Thur) afternoon. Employees of the Federal Competition Authority (BWB) are still in the headquarters in Baden.

The BWB has raided three out of ten largest Austrian dairies – Berglandmilch, Kärntnermilch and NÖM.

The remaining seven dairies (Gmundner Milch, Alpenmilch Salzburg, Gebrüder Woerle, Rupp, Obersteirische Molkerei, Pinzgau Milch, Ennstal Milch) told the Austria Press Agency that they have not been raided by the BWB so far.

However, the authority has apparently examined smaller dairies such as Vorarlberg Milch, Emmy, Lactalis and the distributor Concept.

In February, the biggest Austrian dairy Berglandmilch was fined 1.125 million Euros due to price fixing. On Monday, the retailer Rewe (Billa, Merkur, Penny) accepted an antitrust fine of 20.8 million Euros also due to price fixing.