The Federal Trade Commission on Friday filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo, Inc., alleging the company engaged in illegal price discrimination by giving an unnamed "large, big box" retailer unfair pricing advantages, while raising prices for others.

The Federal Trade Commission on Friday sued PepsiCo in a last-minute blitz of lawsuits before the end of the Biden administration, alleging that the beverage giant forced many consumers to pay higher prices by giving Walmart unfair pricing advantages.

Pepsi denied the allegations and said the FTC's lawsuit is wrong, both factually and legally. "PepsiCo strongly disputes the FTC's allegations, and the partisan manner in which the suit was filed. We will vigorously present our case in court," the company ...

"Today's complaint against Pepsi is wholly deficient, not only because the pleadings fail to state a claim, but because the Majority rushed the case out the door before it had evidence to support the allegations,

The US Federal Trade Commission sued PepsiCo Inc. Friday under a rarely invoked 1930s law called the Robinson-Patman Act that bars price discrimination against retailers.

A substantial portion of the FTC’s allegations were redacted in the complaint due to the legal protections afforded to both PepsiCo and the retailer, according to the FTC.

A lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission alleges that food and beverage maker PepsiCo engaged in illegal price discrimination by giving unfair price advantages to one big-box retailer.

In the days leading up to President Trump’s inauguration, the Biden FTC rushed to initiate major lawsuits and to tie a bow on various antitrust

The agency claims the soda giant gave “unfair” pricing advantages to a larger retailer, forcing consumers to pay more at competing stores. Pepsi “strongly disputes” the allegations.

The lawsuit, filed on 17 January 2025, contends that PepsiCo's preferential treatment of a retailer constituted a breach of the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), a legislation designed to protect fair competition by prohibiting anticompetitive price discrimination.

According to the FTC’s complaint, Pepsi has been providing unfair pricing advantages to one of its largest customers—a major big box retailer—while raising prices for competing retailers and customers. Reuters reports that the retailer is none other than Walmart Inc. WMT , citing a source familiar with the discussions.

Company’s conduct has forced competing retailers, including convenience stores, to pay higher prices, agency says