ACCC takes court action against four vegetable suppliers over “Price fixing”

On Monday 1 September, the ACCC commenced civil proceedings in the Federal Court against four suppliers and three senior executives for alleged “price fixing” while supplying fresh vegetables to ALDI, which it said were in breach of Australia’s cartel laws.

The alleged cartel conduct they say involved price fixing in the supply of fresh produce, including broccoli, cauliflower, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, Brussels sprouts and zucchini, to ALDI stores in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland between 2018 and 2024.

The ACCC alleged cartel conduct from the following:

– Perfection Fresh Australia

– Hydro Produce (Aust)

– Veli Velisha Fresh Produce and Velisha National Farms, its Director and Chief Executive Catherine Velisha, and its Senior Sales Manager Kaushik Vora

– M. Fragapane & Sons, and its General Sales Manager Roberto Nave.

ACCC stated that “Cartel conduct, whether by coordinating prices or agreeing on terms of bids with competitors, is anti-competitive, and is illegal”.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said, “businesses acting together instead of competing can drive up prices and harm consumers, while disadvantaging other businesses that are seeking to compete fairly.”

See the ACCC’s media release announcement HERE.

This article appears as part of the 15 Sept 2025 issue of Guacamole, our enewsletter.

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