Rami Levy Testifies in Trial Against Rival Eyal Ravid
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Rami Levy testified in the trial of competitor Eyal Ravid, owner of Victory, who is accused of price-fixing and influencing retailer prices. The Competition Authority alleges Ravid used public statements and recordings as evidence to signal competitors to raise prices. Ravid is also charged under a novel clause of the Food Law for interfering with suppliers and competitors' pricing. The trial also includes executives from Yohanannof and Super Barkat, with Ravid and others presumed innocent.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rami Levy testified against competitor Eyal Ravid, owner of Victory, in a price-fixing trial.
- Eyal Ravid is accused of attempting to collude and influence prices of other retailers.
- Evidence includes recordings where Ravid called Levy 'the terrorist from Modi'in'.
- The indictment is the first criminal case under the Food Law's 'prohibition of retailer interference' clause.
- Ravid allegedly conditioned price increases on competitors like Rami Levy and Yohanannof also raising theirs.
- Executives from Yohanannof and Super Barkat are also on trial.
Rami Levy appeared at the Lod District Court on Tuesday to testify in the trial of his competitor Eyal Ravid, owner of the Victory supermarket chain. Ravid is accused of attempting to collude and influence the prices of other retailers. The two men shook hands before the hearing began.
Levy, who was previously investigated in a similar price-fixing case that was closed, was called as a witness by the Competition Authority. Recordings found with Ravid, which are evidence in the trial, reveal Ravid referring to Levy as "the terrorist from Modi'in."
The indictment against Ravid, filed 18 months ago, primarily concerns his public statements, which the prosecution alleges were an attempt to signal competitors to raise prices. Also on trial are Eitan Yohanannof, owner of the Yohanannof chain, for a lesser offense of violating supervisory duty; Elad Harazi, Deputy CEO of Yohanannof; and Efraim Tsuba, CEO of Super Barkat.
Ravid is also charged with offenses under the Food Law's "prohibition of retailer interference," a precedent-setting move as this is the first criminal indictment under this specific clause. The indictment claims Ravid and his company interfered with the consumer prices set by competing retailers by pressuring three suppliers. It is alleged that Ravid only agreed to price increases if his competitors also raised their prices.
The Competition Authority's case relies heavily on Ravid's public statements, along with recordings and correspondence. One charge details how Ravid allegedly refused a price increase request from Beit Hashita, leading the company to halt supplies. Subsequently, in October 2021, Ravid allegedly interfered with prices charged by Rami Levy and Yohanannof, according to the Competition Authority. Recorded phone calls from Ravid's seized mobile phone form a key part of the prosecution's evidence. The indictment states Ravid sent a message to Beit Hashita CEO Uri Levy, conditioning a price hike on his competitors also raising their prices, stating, "When Rami Levy raises prices, I will consider it. When Yohanannof raises prices, I will also consider it. So as long as these two scoundrels don't raise prices, because both came from the Kurdistan region, they probably have respect with you. So I, the Arab from the Tunis region, do not approve a price increase."
It is important to note that Eyal Ravid and the other defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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