In Japan, everyone is outraged by the “ice cream cartel” scandal, which involves a group of companies that agreed to continuously raise the price of ice cream.

Increases of 6 cents at a time but very frequent and unrelated to the rise in raw material prices. Until the Antitrust authority noticed.

In Japan, as in the rest of the northern hemisphere, the ice cream season has arrived (assuming there really is one, because ice cream can and should be eaten all the time). But unlike the rest of the northern hemisphere, this year in Japan, ice creams are not only a delight but also a burden. The Japanese Antitrust Authority has declared that it conducted searches last week at the offices of six major ice cream manufacturing companies, suspected of forming a cartel (in a commercial sense, we are not talking about a criminal organization in the style of Narcos. At least, not yet). Authorities stated that the companies colluded to raise ice cream prices well beyond the increase in raw material costs necessary to produce them. Actions that, according to the Antitrust Authority, harmed consumers.

As reported by the New York Times, the case risks damaging the reputation of some of the largest food companies in the country. The ice cream sector in Japan has experienced a boom in recent years: in 2024 it was valued at over 4 billion dollars, with an increase of about 3 percent compared to 2024. And indeed, in Japan, convenience stores, supermarkets, and vending machines are full of these products. Ice pops generally cost about 100 yen, or about 62 cents. Japanese authorities stated that the companies suspected of forming this cartel repeatedly and simultaneously raised prices by 10 yen at a time, or 6 cents each time. Media reports indicated that some senior executives of the companies have been accused of organizing these maneuvers, namely the timing and extent of the price increase, in various private meetings.

Japanese consumers, having noticed the wrongdoing and already irritated by rising inflation, have complained. Investigative authorities have stated that no major ice cream producer will be shut down and that the rules will be followed, meaning if the accusations against the companies are proven, sanctions and compensations will be imposed.But let it be the last time, because it’s fine to face the climate crisis and try to survive it, but you must not touch our ice cream.