Last month when the FTC chose to end its lawsuit against Pepsi for giving Walmart unfair discounts on its myriad sodas, snacks, and other products at the expense of small and independent grocers, it sent a clear message to powerful retailers and their conglomerate suppliers: corporate bullying is back. In a new article in the Washington Monthly, Ron Knox explores what the decision to drop the Pepsi case says about federal antitrust enforcement under the Trump administration — and why small towns that rely on independent grocers might be the hardest hit.
Ron Knox“Small business and consumer advocates say the agency’s withdrawal from the Pepsi case signals to the corporate giants—Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, and their massive suppliers—that they can resume corporate practices favoring bigger businesses.”
The FTC has chosen to "abandon communities that depend on fair competition to maintain access to essential goods and services," says Stacy Mitchell
"Much of Walmart’s market dominance can be attributed to its use of this illegal and anti-competitive tactic," says Stacy Mitchell
Stacy Mitchell connects Pepsi's conspiring with Walmart to the decline of local retailers, the proliferation of food deserts, and rising grocery prices.
The FTC's lawsuit against Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, utilizing the Robinson-Patman Act, could be an opportunity to restore fairness to the American economy