Germans probe Wal-Mart price cuts

28 June 2000



Germans probe Wal-Mart price cuts

GERMAN cartel officers are investigating possibly illegal price-cutting by Wal-Mart and four other supermarket chains, reports the Financial Times.

This follows a fierce price war since the arrival of Wal-Mart in Germany in 1997.

Under German law it is illegal to consistently sell goods below cost price. This law was revised in 1999 to ensure smaller companies could compete with large rivals.

In 1999 Wal-Mart bought the Asda supermarket chain in Britain.

• Adsa to undercut organic rivals, FWi, 28 February, 2000
• Price war fallout to hit farms, FWi, 03 February, 2000
• Financial Times 28/06/2000 page 35