Mr Price and SuperValu stores among retailers fined by competition watchdog

CCPC issued 15 compliance notices, undertakings and fixed payment notices to traders

Mr Price stores in Cork and Kerry have been issued six fixed payment notices for failing to display the price of certain products.

Mr Price stores in Cork and Kerry have been issued six fixed payment notices for failing to display the price of certain products, Ireland's competition watchdog has said. 

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said it issued the fixed payment notices to Corajio Unlimited Company trading as Mr Price at stores in Midleton, Co. Cork and Killarney, Co. Kerry.

A fixed payment notice is a set fine of €300 that the CCPC can issue to traders for failing to correctly display prices or failing to provide certain important information to a consumer.

The CCPC has published undertakings made by three retailers as well as fixed payment notices and compliance notices issued to five retailers across the country.

In addition to Corajio Unlimited Company, the watchdog also issued Cedarglade Ltd trading as SuperValu on Aston Quay, Dublin 2 two fixed payment notices for failing to display correct prices.

Petrogas Group Ltd trading as Applegreen in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, was also issued a fixed payment notice for failing to display the price of a product in the forecourt shop.

A compliance notice was issued to Phoenix Mobile and Communications Ltd trading as Munster Tech Centre two compliance notices for providing information on their website, munstertechcentre.ie, that would be likely to deceive or mislead consumers as to their statutory cancellation rights.

A compliance notice is a written legal notice that the CCPC can issue to a trader who has committed a prohibited act or practice. The notice directs the trader to stop a certain practice and obey the law by a certain date. Failure to do so is an offence and can lead to prosecution.

Another compliance notice was also issued by the CCPC to Hot Fox Ltd trading as CocoBoutique for providing information on their website that would be likely to deceive or mislead consumers as to their statutory cancellation rights.

Undertakings

The CCPC also published details of undertakings made by three retailers. An undertaking is a formal set of commitments given by a trader to the CCPC, where the trader undertakes to take certain actions to address a particular compliance concern.

Rath-Wood Home and Garden World Ltd, commonly known as Rathwood, signed legally binding commitments to comply with consumer protection law by refunding certain consumers.

Ofwal Ltd trading as Easons.com also signed legally binding commitments to comply with sales pricing legislation, following a CCPC investigation into the use of price reduction announcements on Easons.com during the 2023/24 winter sales period.

Shop Direct Ireland Ltd trading as 'Very' was the third company to sign legally binding commitments to comply with sales pricing legislation following a CCPC investigation into the use of price reduction announcements on Very.ie during the 2023/24 winter sales period.

“Consumers have very strong rights and the CCPC is here to uphold them," said chairman, Brian McHugh. "These latest enforcement updates arise from CCPC inspections of supermarkets, petrol stations and other retailers, as well as investigations opened on the back of consumer complaints to our helpline.

“In addition to our regular in-store and online inspections and ongoing investigations, CCPC officers are closely monitoring trader compliance with the legally binding commitments published today. Failure to adhere to the terms of these commitments will result in enforcement action.”