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Ritter Sport und Stiftung Warentest: Informationsdefizite überwinden

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Hildenbrand
  • Rainer Kühl

Abstract

Stiftung Warentest is one of the most important consumer protection organisations in Germany, empowering consumers to protect themselves. For their Test Magazine’s December 2013 issue, they, inter alia, tested hazelnut chocolate. Ritter Sport’s hazelnut chocolate was given a failing grade. This grade was not given because of low quality but because of misleading labeling. Stiftung Warentest faulted Ritter Sport for having labeled an artificial flavouring as a natural one. Ritter Sport rejected the assertion, went to trial and won. The restraining order remains in force. We explain why Ritter Sport’s victory over Stiftung Warentest creates a lose-lose situation. The Test seal of quality was damaged. Therefore, information is lost. High quality producers and consumers with quality awareness are the victims of the information loss. The authors discuss possible solutions which could overcome the no-win situation. Copyright ZBW and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Hildenbrand & Rainer Kühl, 2014. "Ritter Sport und Stiftung Warentest: Informationsdefizite überwinden," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 94(3), pages 217-220, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:wirtsc:v:94:y:2014:i:3:p:217-220
    DOI: 10.1007/s10273-014-1658-x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Hildenbrand & Rainer Kühl & Anne Piper, 2016. "On the Credibility Determinants of a Quality Label: a Quasi-Natural Experiment Using the Example of Stiftung Warentest," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 307-325, September.
    2. Hildenbrand, A. & Kühl, R. & Piper, A., 2016. "How Fragile Is The Credibility of a Quality Label? A Quasi-Natural Experiment Using the Example of Stiftung Warentest," Proceedings “Schriften der Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften des Landbaues e.V.”, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA), vol. 51, March.
    3. Andreas Hildenbrand & Rainer Kühl & Anne Piper, 2015. "Do Negative Headlines Really Undermine the Credibility of a Quality Label? A Quasi-Natural Experiment," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201514, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    D43; D82; L15;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality

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