PepsiCo, Walmart accused of price fixing in class action lawsuit

The new complaint follows an unsealed FTC lawsuit against the soda company claiming that it unfairly gave the retailer preferred pricing.

What happened

PepsiCo and Walmart are facing a class action lawsuit from consumers claiming they overpaid for soft drinks at non-Walmart retailers due to an alleged price-fixing scheme that led to higher costs at other grocery stores.

The class-action complaint follows the Federal Trade Commission unsealing a government lawsuit against PepsiCo that claimed it unfairly gave Walmart pricing advantages. That complaint, brought during the Biden administration, was dismissed earlier this year.

Why it matters

PepsiCo told Food Dive in a statement it disputes the allegations and intends "to defend ourselves vigorously in court," though otherwise declined to comment further on pending litigation. A Walmart spokesperson said the company was committed to negotiation on behalf of its customers “so we can deliver value and everyday low prices.”

While Walmart and PepsiCo are no longer under FTC scrutiny after the Trump administration dropped an investigation into the companies, they aren’t out of hot water yet.

The proposed class action was brought by a group of customers who say they unfairly had to pay more for Pepsi products at retailers that didn't receive the same preferential pricing as Walmart. The lawsuit, filed Dec. 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks a jury trial and monetary damages.

This news brief is based on reporting published by Food Dive on 2025-12-22. The original report is linked below.