Fines for French and Spanish dairies

A number of leading French dairy companies have been fined the equivalent of £160 million for involvement in yoghurt price fixing between 2006 and 2012.

Ten companies were found to be co ordinating price rises for private label products, such as yoghurt and dairy desserts sold to retailers across Europe.

Whistleblowers, Yoplait avoided any fines, but the other companies involved included: Senagral, Lactalis, Nestlé, Ultra Frais, Novandie, Maïtre Laitiers du Cotentin, Yeo Frais, Laïta, Lactalis Beurres et Crèmes, Alsace Lait, Laiteries H.Triballat and Laiteries St.Malo.

In Spain nine companies and two associations were fined a total of the equivalent of £73 million for anti competitive practices in the raw milk market.

Spain’s National Commission of Markets and Competition found the companies guilty of exchanging information on milk prices, milk surpluses, and livestock purchases.


Those involved included Danone, who received a fine of £19 million; Lactalis received a £10 million fine; and Nestlé Spain were fined some £8.8 million.