Colgate-Palmolive has been ordered to pay AUS$18 million by the Australian Federal Court for colluding with other grocery industry companies to fix the price of detergents.
Colgate admitted to entering understandings which limited the supply and controlled the price of laundry detergents and also admitted one of its former senior executives engaged in cartel conduct. Colgate also admitted it had a deal with Unilever Australia and PZ Cussons to cease supplying standard concentrate laundry detergents and only supply ultra concentrates as well as sharing sensitive market information with Unilever about when the two companies would increase the price of their laundry detergents. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) brought the initial action and is pursuing a case against Cussons and Woolworths that is likely to be heard next month.
MASSIVE FINE
