Japan's competition watchdog has raided six of the country's largest ice cream manufacturers on suspicion of forming a cartel to fix the prices of frozen desserts, according to the BBC.
The Raid and Allegations
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) conducted on-site inspections on Tuesday at the premises of six ice cream makers, the BBC reported. The firms are suspected of violating the Antimonopoly Act by colluding to inflate ice cream prices beyond increases in raw material costs, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK, citing anonymous sources. NHK reported that the companies improperly raised prices of popular desserts "several times by 5-10% over the years."
The JFTC declined to release a statement regarding the investigation, the BBC noted.
Companies Under Investigation
The six companies raided are Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, Lotte, Morinaga, Ezaki Glico (maker of Pocky and Hello Panda), and Akagi Nyugyo. These brands distribute their products wholesale to supermarkets and convenience stores across Japan.
| Company | Known Products | Response to Raid |
|---|---|---|
| Meiji | Ice cream, dairy, snacks | Will cooperate fully with investigation |
| Morinaga Milk Industry | Dairy, ice cream | Will cooperate with authorities |
| Lotte | Confectionery, ice cream | Not stated in source |
| Morinaga | Confectionery, ice cream | Not stated in source |
| Ezaki Glico | Pocky, Hello Panda, ice cream | Will respond in good faith and cooperate fully |
| Akagi Nyugyo | Dairy, ice cream | Not stated in source |
Company Responses
Meiji issued a statement acknowledging the inspection: "As reported by some media outlets today, our company has been subject to an on-site inspection by the Fair Trade Commission on suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Act in connection with the setting of sales prices for ice cream and other products. We take this inspection very seriously and will cooperate fully with the Fair Trade Commission's investigation," the Hello Panda snack maker said, according to the BBC.
Ezaki Glico stated: "We will respond in good faith to the Fair Trade Commission's investigation and cooperate fully."
Morinaga Milk also said in a statement that it would cooperate with the authorities' investigation, the BBC reported. The BBC has contacted all companies for comment.
Context: Rising Temperatures and Prices
The alleged price-fixing comes as Japan faces a hot summer with record high temperatures. Earlier this year, Japan unveiled a new name for days that reach 40°C (104°F) or above, after the country experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025. The cartel allegations suggest the companies may have taken advantage of increased demand during hot weather to push through price increases beyond cost-justified levels.
Additional reporting by Chika Nakayama in Tokyo.
Sources:
