The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dropped its price discrimination case against PepsiCo, which accused the company of favoring Walmart, and criticized former Chair Lina Khan for rushing the lawsuit.
The case, filed in New York in January 2021 under the Robinson-Patman Act, alleged that PepsiCo’s pricing practices disadvantaged other retailers, contributing to higher consumer prices. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson called the lawsuit a “legally dubious partisan stunt” and emphasized that taxpayer dollars should not fund such efforts.
PepsiCo stated it maintains fair and competitive pricing for all customers. Walmart has yet to comment on the case dismissal. Lina Khan criticized the decision, calling it “a gift to giant retailers as they gear up to hike prices.”
