Brussels, 28 February 2023
The European Commission has decided to close its preliminary investigation into potential anticompetitive practices by The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Coca-Cola Hellenic.
The Commission had concerns that Coca-Cola and its bottlers could have abused their dominant position by granting a series of conditional rebates to retailers in a number of Member States with the objective of foreclosing the entry or hindering the expansion of new drinks into the market.
Today’s decision to end the preliminary investigation is based on a thorough analysis and careful assessment of all the available relevant evidence, including information received from Coca-Cola, its bottlers, retailers and competitors. Based on the evidence collected, the Commission has concluded that there is insufficient ground to further pursue the investigation.
The closure of the investigation is not a finding that the conduct in question complies with EU competition rules. The Commission will continue to monitor business practices in Europe’s fast-moving consumer goods markets, including in the food and beverages sectors, to ensure affordability, choice and innovation in the sector.