PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle filed a federal lawsuit last week that accuses major chocolate makers of conspiring to fix prices to limit competition, according to published reports. The Hershey Co., Mars Inc., Nestlé and Cadbury Schweppes are defendants in the suit that alleges that the companies fraudulently claimed higher material costs and raised prices by more than 15% around the same time period. The suit cites the Canadian Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation of the companies. The bureau allegedly uncovered communications between executives at the chocolate makers as they made plans to jointly raise prices, according to reports. The Canadian Competition Bureau declined SN’s request for comment, as did Giant Eagle. The retailer calls into question $200 million worth of chocolate that it bought from the companies between 2002 and 2007, according to reports. The manufacturers represent 80% of the U.S. chocolate market. Giant Eagle’s suit comes on the heels of an antitrust suit filed by Kroger, Safeway, Walgreen and Hy-Vee on March 6, naming the same defendants.

Giant Eagle Accuses Chocolate Makers of Price Fixing