India’s competition watchdog has raided offices of Pernod Ricard and Anheuser-Busch InBev, reportedly looking into claims of colluding with retailers on price.
According to Reuters, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) visited offices in the southern city of Hyderabad in the state of Telangana. Unnamed sources also told the news agency officials had raided retailers in the same state.
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Just Drinks approached both of the drinks multinationals for comment.
Pernod Ricard said: “As a responsible corporate citizen, we comply with Indian laws. We are cooperating with the competent authorities on the matter and we rely on them to demonstrate our good faith and compliance.”
Last year, Reuters reported Pernod Ricard was facing an anti-trust probe in India following a complaint to the country’s competition watchdog from domestic drinks producer Radico Khaitan.
A spokesperson for AB InBev’s business in India added: “While we cannot comment on the specifics, we take anti-trust compliance very seriously. We are working together in collaboration with the authorities.”
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By GlobalDataLast week, Pernod Ricard refused to be drawn on reports the French spirits major had fired staff further north in Rajasthan following an internal investigation into alleged discounting malpractices.
Earlier this month, Reuters also reported three Pernod Ricard executives were alleged to have violated the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy.
In a statement, the Beefeater distiller denied the allegations at the time. It added: “Further, we deny any inconsistency in our stand. We have always maintained that there has been no wrongdoing by our employees.”
Pernod Ricard continues to invest in India. In February, the company announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding for a malt spirit distillery in the state of Maharashtra.
The distillery, in the industrial suburb of Butibori in Nagpur, is expected to take at least three years to complete and will produce Pernod Ricard’s Indian whiskey brands, such as its Longitude77 range.
