Another action against parasitic marketing. Three supermarket chains targeted
Two investigations opened for Md and Il Gigante, moral suasion for Famila (Selex Group). The companies' replies
There are three large-scale retail chains on which the Antitrust Authority has intervened with the opening of two investigations and a moral suasion for 'parasitic' marketing activities, so-called 'ambush marketing' in the context of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games for the possible violation of Article 10 of Decree-Law No. 16 of 2020. The chains are Rialto which operates the Il Gigante supermarket chain, MD which owns the MD supermarket and discount chain, and Selex Gruppo Commerciale which operates the Famila supermarket chain.
The first investigation was launched against Rialto, Il Gigante supermarkets, for an advertising campaign called 'TecnOlimpiadi', which took place from 15 to 28 January, in which the company carried out promotional sales of household appliances and electronics products, using the five Olympic rings and images of the Winter Games. The second investigation was instead launched against MD for its advertising campaign 'Start of the Olympic Games MD Edition' with images depicting, among other things, the five Olympic rings and the Olympic flame. For Selex, the Antitrust Authority started a moral suasion action against the operator of the Famila supermarket chain for an advertising campaign in which the Olympic symbols are evoked.
At the end of January, the Authority had intervened on the same grounds against Harmont & Blaine, a group that produces and sells clothing, because the Olympic symbol had been taken up in advertising messages and/or the hashtag #MilanoCortina and #MilanoCortina2026 had been used, directly referring to the event.
The investigation was carried out following a report and in cooperation with the Special Antitrust Unit of the Guardia di Finanza.
The replicas of Md and Selex
Two of the companies involved in the investigation have issued notices in response to the opening of actions against ambush marketing.

