The Turkish Competition Authority fines an undertaking operating in the wholesale market for fresh fruits and vegetables for hindering an on-site inspection (Çekok Gıda)

This case note analyses the Turkish Competition Board’s (“Board”) Çekok Gıda decision dated 03.07.2017 and numbered 17-20/318-140. The Board had initiated an ex-officio preliminary investigation and assessed allegations that eight undertakings [1] operating in the Turkish wholesale market for fresh fruits and vegetables entered into agreements; abused their dominant positions by imposing prices exceeding the market prices and allocated retailers and geographic areas among their main suppliers. Following the preliminary investigation, the Board decided not to initiate a full-fledged investigation against the relevant undertakings operating in the relevant market based on the specific market characteristics and lack of any finding justifying the allegations of violation of Law No. 4054 on