It seems the long, ongoing battle between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Southern Glazer’s has come to a head. The government agency hinted for over a year that it was preparing to sue Southern Glazer’s for unfair pricing structures that favor large chains like Total Wine, Costco, and Kroger, citing “secret kickbacks” in deals with big retailers.
On Thursday, the FTC finally announced the lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s — the largest distributor of wine and spirits in the U.S. — for illegal price discrimination, a violation of the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936, which is intended to protect fair competition.
