JOINT PURCHASING AGREEMENTS IN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN: WHO'S IN THE SHEEP'S CLOTHING?

The article offers an overview of the competitive impact of the joint purchasing agreements (JPAs) or buying alliances in Europe's food chain. It explores the role of JPAs in the European Union (EU) competition law, case law, and the decisions taken by the European Commission, analyzing whether this offers a ground to pay closer attention to the formation and operation of the large buyer alliances in the grocery retail industry. It also explores how case law and decisions are distributed in the dimensions of buyer power as well as downstream market power.