Pingo Doce acquitted as court overturns antitrust fine

The Santarém Court of Competition, Regulation and Supervision has overturned a fine previously imposed by the Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) on the supermarket chain Pingo Doce. The court revoked the penalty due to a lack of ‘solid proof’ regarding allegations of price-fixing practices.

The case originated in 2022, when the AdC accused Pingo Doce, Auchan, and Modelo Continente of engaging in a ‘hub-and-spoke’ arrangement with a common supplier, Active Brands/Gestvinus, to align retail prices between 2009 and 2017. The AdC had initially imposed fines exceeding 5.6 million euros.

A spokesperson for Pingo Doce, part of the Jerónimo Martins group, stated that the acquittal confirms the company’s position that the original decision was ‘totally unfounded’. The company maintained that it has always acted in compliance with competition laws and sought the court ruling to establish the truth of the facts.