Snoop Dogg and Master P have initiated legal action against Post Foods and retail giant Walmart regarding their Snoop cereal products. The lawsuit stems from allegations of deceptive practices aimed at sabotaging the distribution deal between their company, Broadus Foods, and Post Foods, which was established back in 2002. This partnership was designed to market cereal products, including those branded with Snoop Dogg's name, in stores such as Walmart.
According to the complaint, which was reported by CBS News, Broadus Foods claims that both Post Foods and Walmart engaged in deceptive tactics to limit the availability of Snoop cereal to consumers. It alleges that despite showing as sold out or out of stock online and in Walmart's internal systems, many stores actually had boxes of Snoop Cereal in their stockrooms, intentionally kept off the shelves. This deliberate suppression of product availability is purported to be a retaliatory measure after Snoop Dogg and Master P declined to sell their company to Post Foods, as reported by Billboard.
Attorney Ben Crump, representing Broadus Foods, argued that this maneuver was an attempt to squeeze out their business from the market and prevent Snoop Cereal from being sold by any competitor. The lawsuit accuses both Post Foods and Walmart of breach of contract, fraud, collusion, and conspiracy.
In response, Walmart stated that they value their relationships with suppliers and cited various factors influencing product sales. Post Foods, while expressing disappointment in consumer demand not meeting expectations, reiterated their enthusiasm for the partnership with Broadus Foods, as reported by KNBC.
This legal battle sheds light on the complex dynamics between celebrities-turned-entrepreneurs, major corporations, and retail giants in the competitive landscape of the food industry.
