廃棄前の弁当などを値下げする「見切り販売」をしないようにフランチャイズ加盟店に強制したとして、コンビニ最大手セブン－イレブン・ジャパンに賠償が命じられた。47NEWSなどが報じた。
この裁判は、セブン－イレブン・ジャパンのフランチャイズ加盟店のオーナーら4人が、消費期限の迫った弁当などを値引きする「見切り販売」を行わないよう本部に強制されたとして、同社に計約1億3980万円の損害賠償を求めていたもの。東京高裁の斎藤隆裁判長は8月30日、「取引上の優越的地位を利用して値下げを妨害した」として、計約1140万円の支払いを命じた。
判決によると、今回の原告4人は2007～2009年に見切り販売を始めたが、セブン-イレブン・ジャパンの社員から「値下げはできないルールになっている」「店が続けられなくなる」などと妨害されたという。一方、同社が会計システムを使って値下げを妨害しているなどとした原告側主張は退けた。
「見切り販売」については、公正取引委員会が2009年6月、加盟店への不当な制限があったとして同社に排除措置命令を出している。しかし、排除措置命令確定後も「見切り販売」販売制限が行われたと、原告側は訴えていた。
親会社のセブン＆アイ・ホールディングスによると、無原則の見切り販売は、（1）価格への信頼性を損なう、（2）同一商品で“一物二価”の不信感、（3）同一チェーン同士の価格差による価格競争の可能性、（4）ブランドイメージの失墜、などが考えられることから「デイリー商品の見切り処分による販売時におけるガイドライン」を加盟店に配布し、見切り処分による販売方法、作業手順を案内したという。
今回の判決を受けたセブン-イレブン・ジャパンは、「主張の一部が認められず遺憾。承服しかねるので上告する」としている。
この報道を受け、インターネットユーザーの間では、判決は妥当とする意見が多くみられるが、ブランドイメージを考えると難しい問題とする声も上がっている。
コンビニの見切り品値引きについて、あなたがコンビニオーナーだとしたらどのように対応しますか？ご意見をお寄せください。
関連記事
SECRET MENUS
In-N-Out Burger(01 of10)
The In-N-Out secret menu is actually publicized on the company’s website. Some of the most popular items on the burger chain’s secret menu include the “Protein Style” Burger, which is a burger wrapped in crisp Iceberg lettuce instead of a bun, and “Animal-Style Fries,” which includes a mountain of grilled onions, pickles and cheese piled high atop French fries. Another noteworthy non-menu item is the “Neapolitan Shake,” a creamy blend of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream. (credit:Creative Commons)
McDonalds(02 of10)
While the \"Golden Arches\" already symbolize a plethora of burger varieties, McDonalds ups the ante even further with its secret menu.\n\nThe “McGangBang” features a combination as dangerous as its name sounds, with a McChicken sandwich inside a Double Cheeseburger.\n\nTime is of the essence when ordering the “Mc10:35,” is a special non-menu item available during the fast food chain’s switch from its breakfast menu to its regular menu at 10:35 a.m. Similar to the “McGangBang,” the “Mc10:35” features a combination of two regular menu items — in this case, it’s the Egg McMuffin and the McDouble. \n\nTwo other noteworthy items on the secret menu are the “Big McChicken” and “Land, Sea and Air” Burger. The “Big McChicken” demonstrates what a super-sized Big Mac looks like when its traditional buns are replaced by fried chicken patties. The “Land, Sea and Air” burger is a combination of three tarter sauce-covered meats—beef patty, chicken patty and Filet O’ Fish patty—in one grisly sandwich. (credit:Flickr: drewgstephens)
Jamba Juice(03 of10)
The “White Gummi Bear” Smoothie is one of the most highly requested items, according to Alex Montes, who works at the Jamba Juice in the Westfield Culver City shopping mall. Even though this item isn’t on Jamba Juice’s regular menu, that doesn’t stop the numerous customer orders. \n\n“Almost everyone who comes in here orders from the secret menu,” Montes says. “The ‘White Gummi Bear’ smoothie in particular has a fresh mix of raspberry, pineapple and orange sherbet, as well as peace juice, soymilk and frozen mangoes.”\n\nThe Jamba Juice secret menu contains a creative plethora of smoothies, designed to appease a variety of cravings. Some drinks are named after favorite childhood candies and cereals, while others are named for their primary ingredients. For example, the “Sourpatch Kid” exemplifies a grand mix of sour flavors with lemonade, lime sherbet, pineapple sherbet, blueberries, orange sherbet and raspberry sherbet, while “Raspberry Dreamin’” is a blend of raspberry sherbet, raspberry juice, soymilk and frozen yogurt. (credit:Jamba Juice)
Panera Bread(04 of10)
Referred to as being part of the “Hidden Menu,\" the off-menu items are not a secret at Panera Bread. The company recently released this “Hidden Menu,” which is accessible through the MyPaneraBread website. \n\nCreated by Scott Davis, Panera Bread’s chief concept officer, the “Hidden Menu” offers customers a variety of “power options” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every item on the menu contains the word “power,” due to its limited processed carbs and additional protein. For example, the “Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey” features all-natural turkey, basil Pesto, roasted peppers and egg whites atop a bed of warm baby spinach, while the “Power Steak Lettuce Wraps” contains leaf lettuce with a mix of cucumbers, diced tomatoes and red onions, seared top-sirloin, basil Pesto and fresh lemon juice. (credit:Panera Bread)
Subway(05 of10)
Rumor has it that Subway will still make its popular Pizza Sub upon request. The sandwich, which made its debut in the 1990s, was taken off the menu once the chain focused on providing its customers with healthy alternatives to fast food. However, the decadent Pizza Sub—comprising salami, pepperoni, cheese and tomato sauce—can still be made upon request. (credit:Subway)
Burger King(06 of10)
Vegetarians and meat lovers alike will love the Burger King secret menu. Featuring a regular Whopper Burger but substituting the beef patty for a veggie patty, the “Veggie Whopper” provides an option for vegetarians who miss the BK flavor.\n\nThe Burger King secret menu options are endless for the carnivore. The “Suicide Burger” contains a meat overload of four beef patties, four slices of cheese and bacon, all smothered in a special sauce. The “Rodeo Burger” features a cheeseburger comprising barbeque sauce and onion rings. Speaking of the latter, indecisive customers who can’t choose between French fries or onion rings can easily order the secret menu’s “Frings,” which features the best of both worlds.
Olive Garden(07 of10)
At Olive Garden, the secret menu isn’t exactly a “secret,” according to Tony Jones, who has worked at the Olive Garden Arcadia location for seven years. Rather, the “secret menu” contains the most popular customer-modified items that are on the eatery’s regular menu, Jones says.\n\n“For example, we have a Shrimp Alfredo on the secret menu, which is basically our Seafood Alfredo with just sautéed shrimp in the creamy fettuccine,” Jones explains. “Because a lot of customers order the Seafood Alfredo with no scallops, it’s a lot easier for employees to have the Shrimp Alfredo on the secret menu. It makes it more simple to create [because we all know what it is].”\n\nOther noteworthy secret menu items at Olive Garden include a Lasagna & Spaghetti Combination, a Lasagna & Fettuccine Combination, Chicken Carbonara and Shrimp Carbonara. The latter two items are spin-offs from the Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara featured on the regular menu, as customers sometimes prefer having only one addition to their pasta ensemble. (credit:Olive Garden)
Taco Bell(08 of10)
According to Ranker, the Taco Bell secret menu consists of many discontinued menu items that were brought back by popular demand, as well as other original creations. The “Cheesy Gordita Crunch,” for example, is a regular menu item at some Taco Bell locations but is on the secret menu at others. This customer favorite includes a ground beef-filled taco shell placed inside a gordita with a layer of melted cheese and covered with lettuce, shredded cheese and cheese sauce. \n\nThe Taco Bell secret menu also contains items that are twists on its classic menu items. For example, the “Enchirito” introduces a spin on the traditional enchilada, comprising a savory mixture of beef, beans, cheese and diced onions and covered with red sauce, while the “Double-Grilled Quesadilla” features an extra-crispy quesadilla that is twice-grilled on the skillet. (credit:Taco Bell)
Starbucks(09 of10)
The “Biscotti Frapuccino,” “Raspberry Cheesecake,” “Captain Crunch” and “Zebra Mocha”—also known as the “Tuxedo Mocha”—are favorites on the vast secret menu at Starbucks. The “Biscotti Frapuccino” adds an additional crunch to your favorite frapuccino flavor, while the “Raspberry Cheesecake” features a sweet white chocolate mocha with extra pumps of raspberry. The “Zebra Mocha” is a blend of white and regular chocolate mochas, and the “Captain Crunch”—one of the most original secret menu items—puts a twist on the regular Strawberries and Crème frappe with the addition of toffee, caramel, hazelnut and chocolate chips. (credit:Alamy)
Wendy’s(10 of10)
Although its secret menu might not be as extensive as those of Burger King or McDonalds, Wendy’s still strikes a winner among customers with its “Grand Slam.” This mighty sandwich—also called the “Meat Cube”—features a sandwich with four meat patties. The “Barnyard Burger”—a spicy chicken sandwich with layers of beef, bacon and ham interspersed with cheese—is another secret menu favorite. (credit:Alamy)