India orders antitrust probe against liquor giant Pernod Ricard

NEW DELHI, India—India has ordered a probe into French spirits giant Pernod Ricard over allegations of striking exclusive deals with retailers to unfairly boost its products over competitors. The company, whose brands include Absolut vodka, Chivas Regal whisky and Beefeater gin, is alleged to have “proposed financial assistance of 200 crore rupees (about $22 million) to retailers in the form of corporate guarantees” in 2021. The complaint alleges Pernod Ricard provided these guarantees in return for mandating that its brands comprise 35 percent of the stock on sale at the retailers’ stores. A regulatory order issued Friday by the Competition […]...

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