Five Finnish berry companies have been involved in the berry cartel.
Blueberry harvest at the market square in Helsinki. KARI PEKONEN
Today there has been news about cartel berries, i.e. a purchase and information exchange cartel in the domestic natural berry industry. It is a berry cartel revealed by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV).
If you want to avoid cartel berry, how can you recognize it?
In the store’s freezer, identification is the easiest, because the manufacturer is written on the side of the bag of berries. On the other hand, it is already more difficult to find the origin of the berries in, for example, berry juices or jams.
The already bankrupt Arctic International and Kaskein Marja, Kiantama, Marja Bothnia Berries and Polarica have participated in the cartel.
Iltalehti went through the companies’ information about the products they manufacture and their online stores. Only Marja, Kiantama and Polarica were found in the frozen berry pool and the juice shelf.
Instead, Marja Bothnia Berries specializes in the industrial sale of frozen berries. In addition to consumer sales, Kiantama offers raw materials for use in the food, natural products and cosmetics industries.
Polarica is a Swedish berry company that processes natural and garden berries and fruits. Kaskein Marja is its subsidiary.
Kauppalehti previously asked the S group what products the S group has for sale from companies related to the cartel reported by KKV.
– At the moment, frozen berries are bought from the following companies: Kiantama (domestic blueberries and lingonberries), Pakkasmarja (Marja Bothnia Berries as a subcontractor) and Kaskein Marja (Polarica), the S group said.
Among other things, the products below contain berries from the companies involved in the cartel. Cartel berries can be found in other products as well, because the origin of the berries is not necessarily indicated in, for example, jams and juices.
These familiar brands are cartel berries:
Kaskein Marja also has frozen berries in its selection. Manufacturer’s photo
Kaskein Marja has a wide selection of drinks. Manufacturer’s photo
Sea buckthorn berries of the Coop brand are produced by Polarica. Manufacturer’s photo
Coop’s berry mix is produced by Polarica. Manufacturer’s photo
Kotimaista blueberries are packed by Kiantama. Manufacturer’s photo
Polarica is a Swedish company. Manufacturer’s photo