The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) proposes that the Market Court imposes penalty payments totalling approximately EUR 9.4 million on four companies in the wild berry sector for a purchasing and information‑exchange cartel. A fifth company that participated in the cartel has been granted immunity from penalty payments because it cooperated with the FCCA to expose the cartel.
Five of the largest companies in the wild berry sector coordinated purchase prices for domestic wild berries and exchanged commercially sensitive information on the wholesale prices of frozen berries and the factors affecting those prices during 2013–2023. In this context, “wild berries” refers to bilberries (blueberries), lingonberries and cloudberries. The cartel involved Arctic International, Kaskein Marja, Kiantama, Marja Bothnia Berries and Polarica.
The companies coordinated the purchase prices they paid to wild berry pickers — the so‑called picker prices. Price coordination took place in bilateral telephone conversations and via text and WhatsApp messages. Contacts were most frequent during the harvest season.
In addition, the companies shared information with each other on, among other things, factors affecting the supply of frozen berries, as well as on their selling prices and the overall market situation.
“This conduct can be regarded as a highly reprehensible competition infringement. It is a long‑running and serious cartel that has directly harmed pickers and has also weakened competition on the sales markets."
As a result of the purchasing cartel, the companies were able to pay pickers lower prices, because competing firms likewise did not offer better terms. The companies also reduced competitive pressure on the wholesale markets for frozen domestic wild berries by exchanging information on prices and market conditions.
Immunity from penalty payment can be obtained by revealing the cartel
The FCCA granted immunity from penalty payment to Kiantama Oy because the company cooperated with the authority. Kiantama applied for immunity after the FCCA carried out inspections at the companies’ premises in September 2023. Without immunity, the FCCA would have proposed a penalty payment of approximately EUR 1.4 million for Kiantama.
“A company participating in a cartel may obtain immunity or a reduction of a penalty payment by revealing the cartel to the FCCA. This procedure is known as leniency. Leniency is a central tool for uncovering cartels."
There are strict statutory conditions for granting immunity or reductions of penalty payments.
Investigation supported by other authorities
The cartel investigation was initiated through inter‑authority cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation and the TE Office of Northern Ostrobothnia (now the KEHA Centre) in 2022. Cooperation was also carried out with the Swedish Competition Authority.
The FCCA works closely with various authorities to prevent and investigate cartels and other phenomena related to the grey economy.
The matter proceeds to the Market Court
The FCCA proposes the following penalty payments to the companies. The Market Court will decide on the imposition of penalty payments.
The penalty payment proposal concerns companies linked to persons who have appeared in public reporting in connection with human trafficking and corruption matters in the berry sector. The FCCA does not comment on those investigations.
| Company | Penalty payments |
|---|---|
| JN-Group Oy, Arctic International Oy (declared bankrupt on 2 December 2025), Ber-Ex Oy | 970 479 euros |
| Marja Bothnia Berries Oy Ltd | 1 758 080 euros |
| Polarica AB, Polarica Marjahankinta Oy, Kaskein Marja Oy | 5 914 901 euros |
| Kaskein Marja Oy | 785 699 euros |
| Total | 9 429 159 euros |