A spokesman for Edeka welcomed the decision in the “Handelsblatt” and described Coca-Cola’s behavior as a “unilateral breach of contract”. He told the newspaper: “Dominating companies like Coca-Cola are forbidden by antitrust law.”
However, it is unclear whether the verdict will endure – the US group will presumably exhaust all legal remedies. In addition, the judgment only obliges the group to deliver its drinks by the end of September on the agreed terms. A new dispute is therefore very likely.