The soft drinks giant confirmed to Just Drinks today the receipt of notice from the European Commission that a probe has been launched. Coca-Cola declined to give further details.
“While we will co-operate fully with the commission, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further while the process is ongoing,” a statement from the company said.
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A spokesperson for the European Commission told Just Drinks a questionnaire has been sent to Coca-Cola as part of a preliminary investigation. “We cannot comment on or predict its timing or outcome,” the spokesperson added.
The commission has ruled on Coca-Cola’s business practices in the EU before. In 2005, the body’s antitrust unit said retailers were free to buy and sell carbonated soft drinks from any supplier of their choice and could not be forced into exclusivity arrangements with Coca-Cola. It also instructed the group to give up at least 20% of its cooler space to non-Coca-Cola brands.
The ruling followed a six-year investigation.
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