The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Jeronimo Martins Polska, the owner of the Biedronka chain, and upheld the fine imposed by the president of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in the amount of over PLN 60 million. “The decision of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is final,” the office announced on social media.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection reported on Friday on website X that “the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Jeronimo Martins Polska, the owner of the Biedronka chain.”
“The decision of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is final (DOZIK 3/2021). The court upheld the fine imposed by the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection – over PLN 60 million (PLN 60,096,307 – ed.)” – it was emphasized.
The Office added that “in the judgment of the Court of Appeal (the Court of Appeal) emphasized that full and reliable information about the products offered is the entrepreneur's obligation. Misleading may concern the features of the product, including its origin.”
We asked the Biedronka chain to comment on the court's decision. By the time the article was published, we had not received answers to our questions.
Penalty for the owner of Biedronka stores
This concerns the fine imposed by the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in 2021. According to the office, the owner of the Biedronka chain misled consumers as to the country of origin of fruit and vegetables, which could have distorted their purchasing decisions.
It was then indicated that irregularities occurred in over a quarter (27.8%) of Biedronka stores inspected by the Trade Inspection.
“For example, the sign at the stand had the inscription 'Poland', although in fact the garlic sold on October 15, 2019 in Biedronka in Łódź came from Spain, the potatoes offered on February 19, 2020 in Radymno (Podkarpackie) – from France, the savoy cabbage sold on February 19 February 2020 in Kołobrzeg – from France, celery offered on May 12, 2020 by a discount store in Koszalin – from the Netherlands, pears available on February 24, 2021 in Biedronka in Katowice – from the Netherlands, and shallot onions, which could be purchased on February 24 2021 in the store in Bydgoszcz – from France,” we could read in the announcement of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.
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