Ramen restaurant chain Ichiran under antitrust probe

The Japan Truthful Commerce Fee is investigating Ichiran Inc., the operator of a preferred ramen noodle restaurant chain, for allegedly fixing the retail costs of its merchandise in violation of the antimonopoly regulation, sources accustomed to the matter stated Tuesday.

Ichiran, primarily based within the metropolis of Fukuoka, is suspected of forcing retail retailers to promote its cup ramen and different merchandise to be eaten at house at advisable costs, apparently in an try to preserve the costs from crashing and stop the model picture of its merchandise and restaurant chain from being broken, based on the sources.

Beneath the antimonopoly regulation, producers are banned in precept from placing restrictions on their merchandise’ sale costs set by retailers. Such an act may pressure customers to be disadvantaged of alternatives to purchase merchandise cheaply.

In response to its web site and different sources, Ichiran operates 87 ramen eating places in and outdoors Japan, specializing in tonkotsu ramen noodles, a specialty dish from Fukuoka that makes use of pork bone soup broth. Cumulative shipments of the corporate’s “Ichiran Tonkotsu” cup ramen product, launched final 12 months at ¥490 together with tax, have exceeded 5 million models after about eight months.

An Ichiran official stated that the corporate is the truth is present process an investigation on a voluntary foundation and that it’s totally cooperating within the probe.