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The Guardian World1 min read
Japan raids ice cream giants over price-fixing allegations
TL;DR
Japan's competition watchdog has raided major ice cream manufacturers, including Meiji and Ezaki Glico, over allegations of price-fixing. The firms are suspected of colluding to inflate prices despite rising raw material costs.
Key points
- Japan's competition watchdog raided major ice cream makers
- Companies suspected of forming a cartel to raise prices
- Involved firms include Meiji, Ezaki Glico, and Lotte
- Investigation follows record high temperatures in Japan
- JFTC has not released a statement on the investigation
Mentioned in this story
Japan Fair Trade CommissionMeijiEzaki GlicoMorinaga Milk IndustryLotteMorinagaAkagi Nyugyo
Japan's competition watchdog has raided some of the country's biggest ice cream makers for allegedly forming a cartel to raise the price of their products.
Some of the firms, including Meiji and Pocky maker Ezaki Glico, said this week that they have been subject to an "on-site inspection" by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) over suspicions that they fixed the prices of frozen desserts.
The JFTC said it is not releasing a statement regarding the investigation.
The companies are suspected of inflating ice cream prices beyond increases in the cost of raw materials, even as the country faces a hot summer with record high temperatures.
The six firms that were raided on Tuesday were Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, Lotte, Morinaga, Ezaki Glico and Akagi Nyugyo.
The BBC has contacted the companies for comment.
The firms improperly raised prices of popular desserts "several times by 5-10% over the years", according to Japanese broadcaster NHK, citing anonymous sources.
The brands distribute their products wholesale to supermarkets and convenience stores across Japan.
Morinaga Milk, Glico and Meiji said in separate statements that they would co-operate with the authorities' investigation.
"As reported by some media outlets today, our company has been subject to an on-site inspection by the Fair Trade Commission on suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Act in connection with the setting of sales prices for ice cream and other products," Meiji said.
"We take this inspection very seriously and will cooperate fully with the Fair Trade Commission's investigation," the Hello Panda snack maker wrote.
Glico said: "We will respond in good faith to the Fair Trade Commission's investigation and cooperate fully."
Earlier this year, Japan unveiled a new name for days that reach 40C (104F) or above, after the country experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025.
The term - kokushobi - has been translated as "cruelly hot", "brutally hot" or "severely hot" day by Japanese and international media.
Additional reporting by Chika Nakayama in Tokyo
Q&A
What companies are involved in the Japan ice cream price-fixing investigation?
The companies involved include Meiji, Ezaki Glico, Morinaga Milk Industry, Lotte, Morinaga, and Akagi Nyugyo.
What are the allegations against Japanese ice cream makers?
The allegations suggest that these companies formed a cartel to artificially raise ice cream prices beyond the increases in raw material costs.
What action has the Japan Fair Trade Commission taken regarding ice cream prices?
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has conducted on-site inspections of the ice cream manufacturers as part of their investigation into the price-fixing allegations.
