Spanish Milk cartel
Hausfeld and Spanish firm Eskariam have teamed up to assist Spanish dairy farmers affected by a long-running milk cartel to claim damages from the major dairy companies who were found guilty of colluding to fix the price of milk.
This is a trailblazing collective action on behalf of thousands of farmers in the largest ongoing domestic cartel claim in Spain who will now be able to seek compensation for the losses they have suffered as a result of the milk cartel.
The cartel
On 11 July 2019, the Spanish competition authority (National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC)) fined ten of the largest Spanish and international dairy companies and associations, including Danone and Nestlé, €80 million for their involvement in a long-running purchase cartel. Between 2000 and 2013, the cartelists exchanged information on purchase prices, purchase volumes and the level of surplus milk – both at a national and regional level. The CNMC took the unusual step for a competition authority of recognising in its decision that the cartelists suppressed milk prices by approximately 10%-12%.
Following the European trucks cartel litigation, where over 400 judgments have already been handed down in Spain, the Spanish milk cartel is the leading domestic cartel litigation in Spain. This long-lasting cartel has affected the lives of thousands of dairy farmers, who have been protesting for years about the unfair treatment from the leading dairy industries operating in Spain.
Specialist team
Hausfeld and Eskariam both have market leading practices running claims on behalf of groups of claimants. This cooperation results in a strong platform for the Spanish dairy farmers. We have instructed leading economic consulting firm, Compass Lexecon, to assist with calculating damages.
For further information, please visit the dedicated website for this action or contact one of the related lawyers.