Aldi shoppers might have paid unnecessarily high vegetable prices after a major supplier agreed to pay millions in fines for cartel conduct.

Perfection Fresh admitted on Monday to breaching competition law 11 times between 2019 and 2020 by fixing prices of broccoli, cauliflower and iceberg lettuce supplied to Aldi in NSW.

The supplier agreed to pay a $12 million penalty and establish a compliance program, the competition watchdog said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission started proceedings against four Aldi vegetable suppliers, including Perfection Fresh, and three individuals for cartel conduct in September 2025.

Cases against Hydro Produce, Veli Velisha Fresh Produce and M. Fragapane and Sons remain before the court.

A cartel exists when businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other.

Perfection Fresh is the second-largest fresh vegetable supplier in Australia and provides a broad range of produce across all states and territories.

The competition watchdog alleges suppliers including Perfection Fresh made arrangements between themselves that had the effect of fixing the price of multiple green vegetables.

“Cartel conduct, whether by co-ordinating prices or agreeing on terms of bids with competitors, is anti-competitive, and is illegal,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said when legal actions were launched.

“Businesses acting together instead of competing can drive up prices and harm consumers, while disadvantaging other businesses that are seeking to compete fairly.”

While the watchdog and Perfection Fresh agreed on proposed penalties, the Federal Court has final say on how much the company will pay.

Perfection Fresh said it would need to work hard to rebuild trust with stakeholders.

“We have fully co-operated with the ACCC since becoming aware of the issue and have taken significant steps to strengthen our leadership, governance and compliance systems,” a spokeswoman said.