Sugar importer launches Greencore action

A SUGAR importer and distributor has begun a High Court action for damages against the Greencore Group arising out of a European Commission decision that it had abused its dominant market position during the 1980s and 1990s.

ASI Sugar, Carriglea Industrial Estate, Naas Road, Dublin, is seeking damages, including punitive and aggravated damages, against Greencore Group, Irish Sugar, and Sugar Distributors Ltd for the loss of profits it claims it suffered as a result of certain practices during the 1990s.

In what was described as the first action of its type ASI had taken proceedings due to what it says were the defendant’s abuse of its dominant position in the granulated sugar market for retail and industrial sale in Ireland, their infringement of competition law, the EU treaty and were in breach of their statutory duty.