Pepsi accused of illegal pricing deals with 'a large, big box retailer' in U.S. lawsuit

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

January 17, 2025 12:44 PM ET



A new federal lawsuit accuses Pepsi of rigging competition by offering unfair deals to a large big-box store at the expense of rival retailers, resulting in higher prices for shoppers.

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Pepsi for its special deals with a company whose name is redacted. Industry experts point to Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer, as the likely company, which is not accused of wrongdoing.

The FTC alleges that because Pepsi did not offer the same deals to others that sell its products, it put other retailers "ranging from large grocery chains to independent, local convenience stores" at a disadvantage. Pepsi described the lawsuit as "wrong on the facts and the law."

The case is part of the FTC's recent revival of a long-dormant law to try to crack down on high grocery prices, which have been topping Americans' economic concerns. The 1936 law prohibits suppliers from giving preferential treatment to big companies over smaller ones, though with caveats.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/17/nx-s1-5265348/ftc-pepsi-prices-lawsuit-unfair-treatment

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Link to FTC PRESS RELEASE - FTC Sues PepsiCo for Rigging Soft Drink Competition

[msfiddlestix]

1. Well, that sucks.

[Oopsie Daisy]

2. 7-UP is the only Pepsi product that I can tolerate... but Sprite is better, IMO.

Glad they got caught.

[jmowreader]

7. And it's not even a Pepsi product!

The Pepsi version of 7-up is Starry.

[Oopsie Daisy]

8. Good to know!

[cstanleytech]

3. Their going to have to widen it then to include the candy and other junk food makers also.

Assuming they win which I doubt ultimately they will should it reach a 6*3 or more conservative SCOTUS.

[msfiddlestix]

4. omg! My vision impairment turned the word Pepsi, into Pelosi. I thought it was Pelosi engaged in price fixing

So happy I have this straight.
These soft drink companies have been doing these price fixing schemes forever.
just another routine day at court.

[Dem2theMax]

5. I saw 'Pelosi' as well.

I don't know if it's my eyes or my brain, but that happens to me a lot.

[msfiddlestix]

6. I am at a stage of maculuar degeneration which ghosts out details with objects or text

it's sort of random, and inexplicable to describe. Inconsistent and frustrating but not as bad for me as with others. I'm far from being totally blind. With text, oftentimes I wonder if this is the same experience as folks that are dyslexic, I didn't have that issue until the past couple of years

I came across a different article wigh Pelosi, in the headline, I think it was the Jill Biden one, and then when I saw this one, it just looked like Pelosi, not Pepsi, which was very disturbing.

Now that I realize my mistake, I kinda wonder why anyone even bothered. Soda companies have been engaged in price fixing forever, decades. maybe longer. Just another routine lawsuit, another day in court. Soda, Candy, Fuel, Real Estate, is there any big industry, company that isn't engaged in price fixing directly or indirectly?

On the other hand, it is a story that hasn't likely reached the younger generation, and it is something different than the deadly turn our country is taking in a few short days.