French authorities probe offers behind Nutella chaos
The consumer protection and competition directorate of the Economy Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that it is investigating whether the special offers launched by the Intermarche chain complied with regulations.
Videos posted on social media showed scrums as shoppers sought out the chocolate hazelnut spread, reportedly on sale for 1.41 euros (1.76 dollars) instead of 4.70 euros for a 950-gram jar.
Shoppers "flung themselves at it like animals," a witness told regional newspaper Le Progres.
One store worker told the paper that cunning chocolate lovers had squirrelled away jars in remote corners of the supermarket the night before the promotion started to foil rival customers.
The controversy led the manufacturer of Nutella, Italian firm Ferrero, to condemn the offer as a unilateral initiative by Intermarche.
The developments come as French Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert is due to present a draft law Wednesday placing further restrictions on such offers.
French farmers complain that supermarkets attract consumers by driving such hard deals with their suppliers that their livelihoods are put at risk. (dpa)
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