The Hellenic Competition Commission has announced the launch of a comprehensive investigation into competitive conditions across the agri-food sector, as part of its broader efforts to monitor market functioning and address rising concerns over food prices.
The initiative builds on a series of recently completed sectoral inquiries that examined individual food products, including milk, yogurt and feta cheese, as well as upstream inputs such as animal feed and veterinary pharmaceutical products. Those earlier studies, concluded and published in October 2025, aimed to provide detailed insights into specific segments of the food value chain. The new research seeks to develop a holistic view of competitive dynamics across the entire agri-food ecosystem.
The authority will assess competitive conditions at every stage of the value chain, including agricultural production, food processing and retail trade. The investigation is considered particularly timely in light of recent fluctuations in food inflation and sustained increases in consumer food prices in Greece.
According to the Commission, mapping competition throughout the supply chain will help identify potential market distortions arising from limited competition, as well as deeper structural challenges within the Greek economy. The analysis will not focus solely on competitive behaviour but will also examine the potential influence of broader macroeconomic and sector-specific factors.
The study will rely on a range of qualitative and quantitative indicators, covering market structure and performance, static and dynamic competition parameters, and both firm-level and sector-level data. The Competition Commission emphasized that such market mapping and sector studies are essential analytical tools and are conducted independently of merger control procedures or enforcement actions relating to cartels or abuse of dominance under Greek Law 3959/2011 and Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The primary objective of the initiative is to strengthen dialogue with relevant public and private stakeholders on competition policy and to explore the potential need for regulatory interventions. The results of the sector-wide investigation are expected to be published in the third quarter of 2026.