UOKiK suspicions over press distributors dealings

The Office of Consumer and Competition Protection (UOKiK) harbors suspicions press distributor Ruch coupled with other regional distributors, Rolkon (Poznań) and Franpress (Wrocław) had clinched an illegal deal among themselves under which they will not compete with one another and no longer battle over profit margins for kiosk managers. UOKiK claims this form of cooperation may bring negative results for the market including an increase in press prices as well as a deterioration of service quality, including a possible threat to competition on the press distribution market. "It is unacceptable that RUCH, a leading domestic press distributor which holds a 49% share in market is involved in such practices" said UOKiK. (Rzeczpospolita, Aug. 9-10; pp. A1,C1) A.Z.