The Belgian supermarkets 'hub&spoke' settlement decision

The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) recently imposed the highest fine ever in history of Belgian competition law enforcement for a ‘hub&spoke’ cartel in the supply and retail sector of drugstore, perfumery, and hygiene (DPH) products.
Seven supermarkets had indirectly coordinated end-consumer price increases for branded DPH products by exchanging information through the suppliers, who knowingly provided support to the cartel as intermediaries and facilitators of the cartel.
In its settlement decision, the BCA ultimately failed to base the finding of an infringement by settlement decision on established competition law principles.