New regulation for Ferrero from the Competition Board: Hazelnut purchase commitment reduced for 2025

The Competition Board has made a change specific to 2025 in the process of hazelnut purchase commitments carried out with the Italian food giant Ferrero. The Board has updated the company's obligations regarding competitive conditions in the Turkish hazelnut market.

The company was previously required to purchase at least 45 thousand tons of hazelnuts in shell every year during the September–December period. However, citing the decline in yield and quality losses experienced in the 2025 season, this obligation has been rearranged specifically for the year 2025.

MINIMUM PURCHASE AMOUNT REDUCED TO 30 THOUSAND TONS

With the decision of the Competition Board, Ferrero's minimum purchase commitment for 2025 has been reduced from 45 thousand tons to 30 thousand tons. Thus, the company will be obligated to purchase at least 30 thousand tons of hazelnuts in shell during the September–December 2025 period.

The Board stated that this decision is a limited and temporary regulation, and that it aims to protect the competitive balance in the hazelnut market and the income stability of producers.

WARNING FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPETITION AUTHORITY

President of the Authority Birol Küle had called on Ferrero to fulfill its commitments completely in a statement he made recently. Küle had used the expressions, "It is a necessity both in terms of commercial ethics and public opinion for Ferrero, which has been operating in the Turkish market for many years, to fulfill its commitments completely."

OTHER COMMITMENTS REMAIN VALID

The other commitments that became binding with the Competition Board's decision dated March 7, 2024, and cover the 2024–2026 period remain in effect. In this context, Ferrero's following obligations will continue:

Not making purchases below the intervention reference price,

Not exceeding a total of 100 thousand tons of hazelnuts in shell throughout the season,

Making minimum purchases every year during the September–December period (including the amount revised for 2025).

DAILY ADMINISTRATIVE FINE TO BE APPLIED IN CASE OF NON-COMPLIANCE

The Board announced that a daily administrative fine will be applied to Ferrero in case of non-compliance with the revised commitment or any of the existing commitments.

In the statement, it was noted that this sanction will become heavier if the period of non-compliance extends, and that it aims to ensure the company fulfills its obligations.

AIMING TO PROTECT MARKET BALANCE

In the Competition Board's decision, it was emphasized that the temporary regulation was made with the goal of preventing grievances for producers, protecting price stability in the hazelnut market, and maintaining sectoral balance.