As reported by Ansa, the communication campaign for pandoroPink Christmas‘, designed by the influencer Chiara Ferragnideceived consumers.
This is the conclusion reached by the judge of the first section of the Civil Court of Turin, Gabriella Ratti, who accepted the appeal presented by the consumer associations Codacons, Adusbef and Users of radio and television services. The sentence recognizes in the action of the Piedmontese confectionery industry, which is based in Fossano (Cuneo), a “unfair commercial practice” in violation of the Consumer Code, regarding the charity campaign linked to the dessert, with proceeds going to the Regina Margherita children’s hospital in Turin.
Chiara Ferragni’s “Pandoro Gate”: what had happened
The story is now known. In Christmas 2022, Chiara Ferragni And Balocco they launched a charity campaign: a Pandoro special designer, on sale at price Of 9 eurosto be able to purchase a new machine at the Regina Margherita hospital in Turin for the treatment of children suffering from osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma.
Balocco instead, according to what emerged, he had already made a donation to the hospital, in May 2022, of 50 thousand euros. From the Christmas commercial initiative, the companies attributable to Chiara Ferragni they grossed over 1 million euros. So theAntitrustthe Competition and Market Authority, in December 2023, fined both the influencer and the Piedmontese company.
From here the chaos also starts on social media: after a period of silence, Chiara Ferragni publishes an apology video announcing a personal donation to the hospital and talking about a “communication error”. In the interview from Fazio he said: “Things could have been done differently, they could have been explained better.” Meanwhile, more companies distance themselves from the influencer who, in the middle, also faces the harsh separation with Fedezalso shaken by the “Pandoro Gate” as he admitted to Beasts.
The Milan prosecutor’s office has opened (and is continuing) a case on the case aggravated fraud. The issue explodes and goes far beyond Pandoro: the DolciPreziosi Easter eggs and the Trudy doll also end up under the spotlight of the investigators. Chiara Ferragniits general manager Fabio Mario Damato and the legal representatives of Balocco And DolciPreziosi they become investigated.
Chiara Ferragni-Balocco case: what the sentence of the civil court of Turin says
Now the new chapter with the judgment of the civil court of Turin, who takes sides against the influencer. This sentence, we underline, is independent of the Milanese fraud investigations, but could obviously worsen Ferragni’s position.
The civil court of Turin, regarding Balocco, speaks of a “commercial practice contrary to professional diligence and at least capable of appreciably distorting the economic behavior of the average consumer regarding the product in question”.
“The methods of advertising and dissemination of the commercial practice implemented (also) by the company Balocco SpA – reads the sentence – gave consumers the impression, contrary to the truth, that by purchasing the ‘Pandoro PinkChristmas’, they would have contributed directly and proportionally to obtain the funds needed for the financing (…). Even the significant difference in price of the ‘Pandoro PinkChristmas’ compared to its equivalent classic Pandoro Balocco evidently contributed to convincing the consumer that the higher price was a direct contribution to raising funds useful for the charity project”.
Chiara Ferragni-Balocco case: what happens now
Codacons, after the sentence was issued, announced in a note: “The way is open for compensation.” But from the confectionery company they reply: “Balocco specifies that the decree of the Civil Court of Turin rejected the request of some consumer associations to pay one million and 500,000 euros as compensation for damages.” Who bought the Pandorotherefore, still remains in limbo.
Regarding the investigation for aggravated fraudHowever, in the last period the financial police has acquired documents, contracts, emails and even messages from the subjects involved. At the moment, information is awaited in the Palace of Justice in Milan in order to begin the interrogations.
