Complaint Regarding Hill’s Dog Food Price Fixing

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding what appears to be a case of price fixing by Hill’s Pet Nutrition in selling their dog food products. As a consumer, I find it unacceptable that a company would engage in such practices, which ultimately limit our ability to seek competitive prices and make informed purchasing decisions. On 7th February 2024, I conducted a survey of several pet supply stores in my area, explicitly comparing prices for Hill’s Adult 1-6 Small & Mini up to 10kg dog food. To my dismay, I discovered that all of the shops I visited, namely Craighall Veterinary Hospital, Le Pawtique, Ultra Pet, Cat Box Pet Hyper–Randburg, and Lifestyle Home Garden Centre, were selling the product at identical prices of R499.00. Upon questioning the managers of these establishments, I was informed that Hill’s Pet Nutrition had explicitly instructed them to maintain these fixed prices. This revelation is deeply troubling, as it suggests a deliberate effort by Hill to control and manipulate the market, depriving consumers like me of the opportunity to seek out the best deals and value for our purchases. Such appropriate authorities must thoroughly investigate such anti-competitive practices. It is imperative that the Office of the Consumer Protector takes action to address this issue and hold Hill’s Pet Nutrition accountable for its actions. Consumers deserve transparency, fairness, and the freedom to choose where and how they spend their hard-earned money. Therefore, I urge the Office of the Consumer Protector to launch a formal investigation into the pricing practices of Hill’s Pet Nutrition and take appropriate measures to ensure that consumers are protected from such ********* behaviour in the future. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I trust that prompt action will be taken to address this issue. Sincerely, Charl Naude