Tetra Pak has said it will “co-operate” with Chinese authorities on their investigation into the packaging giant for alleged abuses of its market position.
A spokesperson for Tetra Pak in Switzerland confirmed the Chinese State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC) had asked the company for information related to its business in China.
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“Right now, however, it would be entirely inappropriate for us to speculate on whether this might affect our business in the country,” he told just-food. “It is now our largest market company in terms of sales,” he added.
SAIC head Zhang Mao told a meeting on Friday the investigation ranged across 20 Chinese provinces and municipalities. Zhang said 13 provincial trade and industry bureaux have begun looking into 23 cases related to the investigation, and that 12 had already reached a decision.
Details were posted in Chinese on SAIC’s website but it did not respond to just-food’s calls yesterday.
“At this stage, we have no further information regarding their enquires, or any formal investigation,” the Tetra Pak spokesperson said. “We will, of course, continue to co-operate with SAIC going forward.”
Tetra Pak delivered its first filling machine in China in 1979 and opened its first packaging material plant in Beijing in 1987. It has several packaging plants as well as a research centre in Shanghai. Clients include large dairy producers.
