Tchibo Loses Legal Battle Over Aldi Süd's Coffee Prices

A German court ruled that Aldi Süd's low coffee prices are lawful, rejecting Tchibo's claims of unfair competition.

The Düsseldorf court dismissed Tchibo's lawsuit alleging that Aldi Süd sold its Barissimo coffee below production costs to harm competition.
Judges found Aldi Süd's pricing strategy commercially reasonable and not aimed at driving competitors out of the market.
Aldi Süd produces its coffee internally, which exempts it from laws prohibiting sales below wholesale cost.
Experts argue that such low prices may harm coffee producers in origin countries by undermining fair wages and sustainable practices.
Rising global coffee prices, partly due to poor harvests in Brazil, are expected to lead to higher costs for consumers in 2025.