09/27/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2023 01:52
In 2013, FDJ began to develop a contractual relationship with the Réseau Fleuri remote flower delivery company (7,500 member florists), authorising online sales of the "Bouquet Chance" (a bouquet accompanied by scratchcards).
Following this initial experience, a broader partnership was signed between the two entities at the end of 2015, enabling florists in the Florajet network to distribute certain scratchcards and draw games (Loto, EuroMillions and Keno grids).
FDJ's approval of sales points outside the tobacconist network caused major dissatisfaction among tobacconists. Considering that the "Florajet affair" necessitated "very tough action against FDJ", and that "their new game, due out in September, had to be crushed", the CNBF launched and organised operations to boycott the validation of FDJ games; these operations were relayed at local level by regional federations and chambers of tobacconists.
Boycotts were organised during the launch of the new "EuroMillions"game formula on 27 September 2016and the validation of online games (Loto, Loto sportif and EuroMillions) in the Eastern Federation on 22 September2016.
By seeking to foreclose potential competitors to tobacconists, the CNBF overstepped the boundaries of its legitimate trade union activity by intervening in the market.
The Autorité considered this behaviour to be particularly serious and therefore imposed a fine of 750,000 euros for the period of the practices in question, from 23 August to 27 September 2016. Lastly, the Autorité ordered it to publish a summary of its decision on the home page of its website and in a newsletter sent to its members.