The Competition Board concluded the preliminary inquiry conducted about the undertakings operating in the area of hazelnut purchase/sale.

As a result of the preliminary inquiry made, an investigation has been launched on

• Ferrero Fındık İth. İhr. ve Tic. AŞ (FERRERO),
• Atalay Fındık San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.,
• Balsu Gıda San. ve Tic. AŞ,
• Karaçuha Tarım Ürünleri İth. İhr. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.,
• Ofi Tarım San. ve Tic. AŞ,
• Özyılmaz Fındık San. ve Tic. AŞ ve
• Şenocak Gıda Fındık Ent. Tur. Nakl. İnş. San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.

which are operating in the area of hazelnut purchase/sale, in order to determine whether they violated the Act No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition (the Act No. 4054) by means of determining hazelnut purchase prices and hazelnut purchasing policies in a coordinated way as well as by influencing price formation in the hazelnut purchasing market.

In addition, the investigation will also examine whether the commitments, which were rendered binding with the Board decision about FERRERO dated 07.03.2024 and numbered 24-12/213/87 have been complied with.

According to the commitments, in 2024, 2025 and 2026, FERRERO 

(1) shall not purchase in-shell hazelnuts below Turkish Grain Board’s reference price,

(2) shall not purchase more than 100,000 tons of in-shell hazelnuts during each hazelnut season and

(3) shall purchase at least 45,000 tons of in-shell hazelnuts during September-December period (peak season) of each year.