Greek Competition Authority fines VF Hellas €954k for online sales restrictions

The Greek Competition Authority imposed a fine of €954,485 on VF Hellas Enimaton EPE, a subsidiary of the U.S. VF Corporation, after the company accepted a settlement proposal. The fine relates to practices that restricted retailers' use of online platforms, price‑comparison sites and search‑engine advertising, which the authority classified as "hardcore restrictions" under EU and national competition law.

VF Hellas distributes school supplies, clothing and footwear under brands such as Vans, Eastpak and The North Face. By contractually prohibiting retailers from promoting products on off‑platform channels, the company limited consumer choice and competition in the Greek market, leading to the enforcement action.