The European Commission said Monday it is carrying out unannounced antitrust inspections at the premises of a company active in the chocolate confectionery sector in two EU member states. The Commission did not name the company.
DG Competition said it is investigating possible violations of both Article 101 and Article 102 TFEU — the treaty provisions covering restrictive agreements and abuse of dominance. The stated theory of harm centers on market segmentation: restrictions on the trade of goods between member states and obstacles to multi-country purchases.
That framing points to conduct that could fragment the single market by preventing buyers from sourcing across borders or purchasing across multiple countries.
The Commission emphasized that the inspections are a preliminary step and do not establish that the company has violated competition law. There is no legal deadline for completing the inquiry.
As context, in May 2024 the Commission fined Mondelēz €337.5 million for hindering cross-border trade of chocolate, biscuits, and coffee products between member states, finding breaches of both Article 101 and Article 102. The Commission has not drawn any public link between that case and the current inspections.
The identity of the target company and the two member states involved remain undisclosed. Any formal proceedings, if they follow, would come only after the Commission completes its preliminary assessment.