06.11.2026 13:31
The Competition Board has launched an investigation into 7 companies, including Ferrero, on suspicion that they influenced market prices by jointly determining hazelnut purchase prices and policies. The investigation will also examine whether Ferrero complied with the commitments it made in 2024 not to purchase hazelnuts below TMO's reference price and to limit seasonal purchases to 100,000 tons. The Board emphasized that opening an investigation does not mean that the companies are guilty.
Following the completion of the preliminary investigation into the hazelnut market in Türkiye, a noteworthy decision came from the Competition Board. The Board decided to launch an investigation to determine whether 7 companies operating in the sector coordinated their hazelnut purchase prices and purchasing policies. In the review, it will be investigated whether the companies acted jointly and affected price formation in the market.
INVESTIGATION INTO 7 COMPANIES INCLUDING FERRERO
According to the announcement published on the Competition Authority's website, the companies under investigation are as follows:
- Ferrero Hazelnut Import Export and Trading Inc.
- Atalay Hazelnut Industry and Trade Ltd. Co.
- Balsu Food Industry and Trade Inc.
- Karaçuha Agricultural Products Import Export Industry and Trade Ltd. Co.
- Ofi Agriculture Industry and Trade Inc.
- Özyılmaz Hazelnut Industry and Trade Inc.
- Şenocak Food Hazelnut Integrated Tourism Transport Construction Industry and Trade Ltd. Co.
Whether the companies violate the Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition by jointly determining hazelnut purchase prices and policies will be evaluated within the scope of the investigation.
THE COMMITMENTS GIVEN BY FERRERO WILL ALSO BE EXAMINED
One of the noteworthy aspects of the investigation was the commitments Ferrero gave to the Competition Authority in 2024. The Board will also investigate whether the obligations made binding on the company by its previous decision have been complied with.
These commitments cover Ferrero's not purchasing in-shell hazelnuts below the reference price of the Soil Products Office (TMO) in 2024, 2025 and 2026, not purchasing more than 100,000 tons of in-shell hazelnuts in each hazelnut season, and purchasing at least 45,000 tons of in-shell hazelnuts in the September-December period of each year.
HAZELNUT PRICES UNDER SCRUTINY
In the Competition Board's investigation, it will be examined whether the companies determine hazelnut purchase prices independently or in a coordinated manner. In this context, the impact of purchasing policies on price formation in the market and whether there is any practice restricting competition among the companies will be investigated.
At the end of the investigation, if a violation of the law is identified, administrative sanctions may be imposed on the relevant companies.
OPENING AN INVESTIGATION DOES NOT MEAN A VIOLATION
The Competition Authority particularly emphasized that the investigation decision does not mean that it has been established that the companies violated the law. In the statement, it was stated that it cannot be said that the undertakings under investigation have faced or will face sanctions at this stage.
The final assessment regarding the companies will be made after the investigation process is completed.