Cartel hint sets off edible oils firms raids
Competition Commission gives rights assurance after striking to search five companies’ offices in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal and seize records
A tip-off prompted the Competition Commission to launch a search-and-seizure in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday at the premises of five companies that manufacture and distribute edible oils, baking fats and margarine. Some of the high-profile brand names involved include Sunshine D and Blossom. The commission said there were reasonable grounds to believe the companies had been engaging in cartel conduct since before 2007. The companies, whose offices were raided are Wilmar Continental Edible Oils and Fats, DH Brothers, Waring Holdings, Africa Sun Oil Refineries and Epic Foods. Sipho Ngwema, head of communications at the commission, said the companies were accused of engaging "in cartel conduct which includes price-fixing in the market for the manufacture and distribution of refined edible oils including baking fats and margarine". During the search, the commission seized documents, records and electronic data, which will be analysed to determine if the companies have contraven...
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