Investigation and pending class action against the dominant chocolate producers, including Hershey, Nestle, Mars, and Cadbury on behalf of direct purchasers of chocolate confectionary products
This anti-trust class action lawsuit alleges that the chocolate manufacturers engaged in an international conspiracy to fix prices for these products from approximately 2002 through the present. As a result of the alleged conspiracy, the direct purchasers of chocolate allege that they paid artificially inflated prices for the defendants' chocolate confectionery products during this period.
The United States Department of Justice and the Canadian Competition Bureau are investigating the defendants.
Defendant Details
Name (Stock Symbol)
Brief Description
Hershey Company (HSY)
Hershey Company manufacturers and sells chocolate, candy, gum and beverages.
Cadbury plc (CBY)
Cadbury plc engages in the confectionery business worldwide. Its confectionary products comprise cocoa powder, candy, cough drop, chewing gum, milk chocolate bar, sugar-coated gum, and breath freshener, which are marketed under Cadbury, Creme Egg, Green and Blacks, Trident, Dentyne, Hollywood, Bubbaloo, Halls, Cadbury Eclairs, BassettÂ’s, and the Natural Confectionery Company brand names.
Nestle, S.A. (NESN.VX)
Nestle, S.A. manufacturers a range of consumer products.
Mars, Inc.
Mars, Inc. manufactures snack food, pet food, other food products and beverages under 100 separate brand names.