Suit alleges Walmart colluded with Post Foods to ensure that Snoop Cereal would not appear on the company’s shelves
LOS ANGELES, Calif. –– National civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump today announced that he is representing Broadus Foods LLC in a lawsuit against Post Consumer Brands, LLC (“Post Consumer”), Post Foods, LLC (“Post Foods”), and Walmart, Inc. (“Walmart”). Broadus Foods, founded by Calvin Broadus (Snoop Dogg) and Percy Miller (Master P), alleges unfair business practices and breach of contract in connection with the launch and distribution of its flagship product, Snoop Cereal.
In 2022, Snoop Dogg and Master P established Broadus Foods with a vision of creating a family-owned company that adds diversity to the food industry and provides opportunities for minority-owned food products and brands. Broadus Foods launched two main brands, Snoop Cereal and Momma Snoop, offering high-quality and affordable breakfast foods. The company not only aimed to inspire economic empowerment among minorities but also pledged to give back to the community by supporting charities addressing hunger and homelessness.
To further their vision, Broadus Foods entered into a Partnership and Promotion Agreement with Post Foods to distribute Snoop Cereal in major retailers, with a focus on Walmart, the largest seller of Post Foods’ products. However, according to the lawsuit, Post Foods, despite outwardly agreeing to the partnership, engaged in deceptive practices to hinder the success of Snoop Cereal.
The complaint outlines various instances where Post Foods and Walmart allegedly collaborated to prevent Snoop Cereal from reaching consumers, despite its popularity among consumers. Broadus Foods contends that boxes of Snoop Cereal were intentionally kept in the stockrooms of Walmart stores, marked with “no location” coding, preventing them from being placed on the store shelves.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that even in instances where Walmart stores did place Snoop Cereal on the store floor, a pattern emerged in which the product was strategically positioned away from the cereal aisle. Instead, Snoop Cereal was reportedly placed in unconventional sections, including the baby section and clearance areas, where it was sold at heavily discounted prices. The complaint suggests that such deliberate actions, allegedly directed by instructions from Post Foods and determined at Walmart’s corporate headquarters, deprived Broadus Foods of the expected profits and compensation from the sale of Snoop Cereal. This alleged concerted effort to hinder the visibility and accessibility of the product raises concerns about the fair treatment of minority-owned businesses within the retail landscape.
“This case shines a light on the steep challenges faced by minority-owned businesses in securing fair opportunities in the marketplace,” said Attorney Ben Crump. “The actions by Post Foods and Walmart demonstrate cynical disregard and exploitation of minority entrepreneurs in the business world. If this is how celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Master P are treated by corporate America, just imagine how lesser known Black entrepreneurs and small business owners are treated by powerful corporations.”
The lawsuit seeks to hold Post Foods and Walmart accountable for their alleged deceptive practices and aims to preserve the goals of Snoop Dogg and Master P in creating a legacy for their families, promoting diversity in the food industry, and giving back to the community.
Broadus Foods is seeking damages suffered by the deceptive trade practices under various causes of action.
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
