Perfection Fresh admits to vegetable price fixing

Perfection Fresh, Australia’s second-largest fresh vegetable supplier, has admitted to cartel conduct involving the price fixing of broccoli, cauliflower, and iceberg lettuce supplied to ALDI stores in New South Wales. The admitted conduct occurred on 11 occasions between 2019 and 2020.

The company and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have jointly proposed a $12 million penalty to the Federal Court. This proposed penalty covers nine contraventions and one attempted contravention; one instance falls outside the period for which a penalty can be applied. In addition to the fine, the parties will ask the Court to require the company to establish a competition law compliance program.

The ACCC initiated civil proceedings in September 2025 against Perfection Fresh, three other suppliers, and three individuals. While Perfection Fresh has accepted responsibility and cooperated with investigators, legal proceedings against the other suppliers and individuals are ongoing.