Perfection Fresh admits fixing vegetable prices sold to Aldi in cartel case

Perfection Fresh Australia has admitted engaging in cartel conduct by fixing the prices of fresh vegetables supplied to Aldi, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Monday.

The company has agreed to jointly submit to the Federal Court that it should pay a penalty of A$12 million for nine contraventions and one attempted contravention, and establish a competition law compliance programme. The Court will decide at a later date whether the proposed penalty and other orders are appropriate.

The ACCC said Perfection Fresh admitted that on 11 occasions between 2019 and 2020 it fixed the prices of broccoli, cauliflower and iceberg lettuce supplied to Aldi in New South Wales.

The ACCC began civil proceedings in the Federal Court in September 2025 against Perfection Fresh, three other suppliers and three individuals over alleged price fixing while supplying fresh vegetables to Aldi. The case against the other suppliers and individuals is ongoing.

“Cartel conduct undermines competition and can increase prices, harming consumers and raising the cost of doing business,” ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward said. “Enforcing cartel laws and protecting competition in the supply of fresh food are ongoing priorities for the ACCC.”

Perfection Fresh, based in New South Wales, is Australia’s second-largest fresh vegetable supplier, supplying produce to all states and territories, the ACCC said.

Sources: https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/perfection-fresh-admits-to-fixing-the-price-of-vegetables-sold-to-aldi | https://www.mlex.com/mlex/articles/2542174/australian-aldi-vegetable-supplier-perfection-fresh-admits-cartel-conduct