Meat suppliers raided over price fixing

THE Competition Commission yesterday raided 13 premises belonging to seven meat suppliers in three provinces as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged fixing of prices and trading conditions.

The commission said it was conducting simultaneous search-and-seizure operations, probing alleged contraventions of the Competition Act by Karan Beef, Sparta Foods, Chalmar Beef, Beefmaster Kimberley, Morgan Beef, Beefcor and Fabvleis Midland Meat.

The companies – operating from Gauteng, the Free State and Northern Cape – are meat suppliers that are also known as feedlots.

They purchase weaner calves from farmers in order to bulk-feed them in preparation for slaughtering. They also sell beef to wholesale and retail customers.

The commission said the meat suppliers were alleged to have entered into an agreement and/or engaged in concerted practices to fix prices and trading conditions when purchasing the calves.

The suppliers are also alleged to have an agreement to fix the prices at which they sell meat to wholesale and retail customers.

Spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said the search-andseizure operations were conducted with due regard to the rights of all the affected parties.

“The commission remains committed in its quest to fight