The Competition Committee imposed a fine of 172,424 euros on the group ELOMAS for the violation of the geographical distribution of markets provided for in its articles of association.

The case concerns the distribution market of supermarket items at retail level. From the Commission’s information, it appears that ELOMAS received a series of written letters and protests from its members requesting the non-operation of one member’s stores in a geographical area operated by another member of the Group. The letters and protests in question referred to the general principle of operation of the Group reflected in a decision of its General Assembly, according to which its members had to keep a certain geographical distance between their stores, and in particular at least 1000 meters in areas outside Athens and Thessaloniki and 300 meters inside Athens and Thessaloniki.

The Group filed a request to be included in the Dispute Settlement Procedure, and recognizing that it had committed a violation of geographic distribution of markets, which constitutes a restriction of competition by its object, submitted a Dispute Settlement Proposal. The Plenary of the Commission decided to accept the said Proposal and issued a decision, by which it obliges the Group not to repeat the violation in the future and imposes the fine.