Core Insights - The FTC's lawsuit against PepsiCo, which was dismissed without prejudice, involved allegations of price rigging and preferential pricing practices that disadvantaged competing retailers [3][4][7] - The unsealed complaint revealed that Walmart was the retailer benefiting from PepsiCo's pricing strategies, raising concerns among independent grocers about anticompetitive practices [4][5][7] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in January and dismissed in May, with the FTC alleging that PepsiCo's pricing and promotions for Walmart harmed competition among retailers [3][4] - The complaint highlighted that PepsiCo provided Walmart with lower average retail prices and promotional benefits not available to its competitors, violating the Robinson-Patman Act [7] Group 2: Industry Reactions - The National Grocers Association expressed concerns about the implications of the complaint for independent grocers and reiterated calls for stronger antitrust enforcement [5][6] - Walmart responded to the allegations by emphasizing its commitment to negotiating for customer value and maintaining low prices, while not commenting on the specifics of the case [4]