Collusion in chocolate bar pricing

[capricorn]

Now I feel really cheated. Who would have thought that chocolate bar manufacturers would lower themselves to the tried and true gimmicks of oil producers in price fixing. Our Competition Bureau is aiming to protect chocolate lovers.

"We can confirm that we are investigating alleged anticompetitive practices in the chocolate confectionery industry," said John Pecman, the bureau's assistant deputy commissioner in the criminal matters branch. "The volume of commerce affected here is definitely potentially in the billions of dollars per year."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwFPTvs...sqZOKAD8T6NMMG0

One word of advice. Save all your chocolate bar wrappers and cash register receipts. Once the score is settle in court, let's insist on a refund for the money they fraudulently extracted from unsuspecting consumers.

CHOCOLATE LOVERS OF CANADA UNITE!

[Frankie]

I don't understand...Chocolate bars have been the same price for years, as far as I know. Most are $.99 each. Does this issue effect the price on my chocolate bars?

[capricorn]

Why are they all the same price? Most chocolate bars have different weight. Shouldn't weight affect price? And what about competition? If I was in business I'd try to undercut my competitor's prices to gain a bigger share of the market.

And why are potato chips, peanuts etc. different prices?

This is a billion dollar industry. If we're getting shafted with chocolate bars what about other goods?

[Borg]

Profit is everything.

Want to strike back - stop eating choccie bars.

I do not think I could.

Mmmmmm ...... Snickers. Love them!

Borg

[Fortunata]

stop eating choccie bars.

Sure, like that's an option?

From here on out I want two for one!

[Borg]

Sure, like that's an option?

From here on out I want two for one!

When you find that deal - please tell us all.

Borg

[capricorn]

Well how about that? The US is following Canada's lead in probing price fixing by chocolate makers.

"Canada's big chocolate-bar makers have been colluding for years to fix prices and stop retailers from offering discounts to consumers, court filings allege.

Senior executives at Hershey Canada Inc., Mars Canada Inc. and Nestlé Canada Inc. met secretly in coffee shops, restaurants and at industry conventions to set prices, the documents say. At one point, the chief executive of Nestlé Canada is alleged to have handed envelopes stuffed with pricing information to a competitor, instructing the person not to be seen picking up the material in his office.

The collusion began in 2002 and continued until a few weeks ago, the documents allege. It also involved a major food distributor, ITWAL Ltd., whose president sent regular updates to participants.

The allegations are contained in two search warrants the federal Competition Bureau obtained last month as part of an investigation into the $2-billion-a-year chocolate industry. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a similar inquiry as a result of the Canadian probe."

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/st...y/Business/home

I think it won't be long before we see 50 cent chocolate bars in the stores. Fortunata may see the 2 for the price of 1 she mentioned.

[cybercoma]

Funny thing... when I went to Malta in 2001, the price of chocolate bars converted to approx. $0.25 Canadian. I'm talking full size chocolate bars.

[Topaz]

Anyone remember the '70's when there was a sugar shortage and everything with sugar went up. When the prices finally fell, the chocolate bars prices didn't and have gone up since.

[guyser]

Anyone remember the '70's when there was a sugar shortage and everything with sugar went up.

And roughly when glucose Fructose corn syrup came into fashion.

And roughly when obesity started to climb.