Türkiye opens investigation into ten caterers over alleged collusion in public meal tenders

Türkiye's Competition Board has opened a full investigation into ten companies that supply group catering to public institutions, over allegations that they colluded in meal tenders and caused public bodies to pay higher prices, the Competition Authority said on 19 October on its news portal. The decision, numbered 26-37/1006-M, was taken at the Board's meeting of 8 October and cites Article 4 of Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition, according to the announcement as reproduced by Alomaliye.

The ten companies

The investigation covers Akyol Kurumsal Yemek Hizmetleri Ltd. Şti., Aş Dünyası Yemek Hizmetleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti., Azık Yemek Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, Bircan Temizlik ve Yemek Hizmetleri Turizm İnşaat Nakliyat Hayvancılık Gıda Sanayi Ticaret Ltd. Şti., Emiroğulları Yemek Fabrikaları Gıda İnşaat Temizlik Hizmetleri San. Tic. Ltd. Şti., Gusto Toplu Yemek Üretim Hizmetleri ve Gıda San. Tic. Ltd. Şti., Kaf Yemek San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., Kalfoğlu Yemek Ticaret Ltd. Şti., Paraf Yemek Temizlik ve Özel Eğitim Hizmetleri İnşaat Nakliyat Ticaret Ltd. Şti. and Şimal Yemek Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti., as the announcement reproduced by Alomaliye names them; the Authority's portal uses their short names.

None of the public institutions whose tenders are in question is named, and the announcement gives no tender values or periods. The Authority's portal says independent and competitive bids in group meal tenders are indispensable for the effective use of public resources, and that it continues to examine public tenders with the same care.

How the case reached this stage

The investigation follows a preliminary inquiry into the sector. The Board found the evidence gathered in that inquiry serious and sufficient to open a full investigation, Dünya reported on 19 October, adding that opening an investigation does not mean that any company has broken the law or will be fined. The allegation in the announcement is collusive conduct that caused a loss to the public, which the Board will now examine on the file.

The case follows the Board's decision this month to open a dominance case against an instant noodle producer reported in our piece on the Adkoturk investigation. The Authority's pharmaceutical sector inquiry, set out in our report on its preliminary findings, is running in parallel.

Why public tenders matter

The allegation concerns public money directly: the Authority says it will examine the suspicion that the conduct led public institutions to buy meal services at higher prices. Poland's competition office fined seven grid contractors for agreeing the winners of electronic auctions run by a state-owned distributor, as we reported.

The announcement does not mention any interim measure and sets no next procedural date or deadline for the investigation.