Ferrero, the global manufacturer behind brands such as Nutella, has confirmed that officials from the European Commission are conducting on-site inspections at its offices.

The Commission had earlier disclosed that it carried out raids at the premises of an unnamed chocolate confectionery company as part of a probe into suspected violations of EU competition rules. These regulations are designed to prevent cartels and other anti-competitive practices that could distort fair trade within the bloc.

According to the Commission, the investigation is focused on potential “market segmentation” practices. These include restrictions on the cross-border trade of goods between EU member states and barriers that may limit retailers from sourcing products across multiple countries within the single market.

Such practices, often referred to as territorial supply constraints, have long been a point of contention for European retailers. Supermarket groups have accused major consumer goods companies of maintaining artificial price differences between countries and limiting their ability to purchase branded products in bulk for resale across borders. These constraints can ultimately affect pricing, availability, and competition throughout the region’s food and beverage landscape.

Bloomberg was the first to identify Ferrero as the company involved in the investigation.

In a statement, Ferrero acknowledged the inspections, saying: "Ferrero is aware that on-site inspections are currently taking place in its offices by European Commission officials. The Company is fully cooperating and providing the information requested."