American rappers Snoop Dogg and Master P are taking legal action against Walmart and a food manufacturing company for allegedly sabotaging their cereal brand. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, claims that Walmart and Post Consumer Brands concealed boxes of Snoop Cereal and falsely reported it as out of stock. The lawyers representing Snoop and Master P argue that this was a ‘blatant disregard’ for a black-owned business, while both accused companies attribute the lack of product on sales.
Snoop Dogg and Master P co-founded Broadus Foods, a food production company that launched in 2022. The company specializes in producing breakfast cereals, pancake mix, maple syrup, and other food products. According to the complaint filed, Post attempted to block Broadus Foods from the market after the rappers refused to sell their company to the manufacturer. Despite this, they did agree to a partnership where Post would produce and distribute the products to major retailers, including Walmart.
The lawsuit claims that Walmart and Post Consumer Brands intentionally withheld Snoop Cereal from consumers and made it difficult for Broadus Foods to gain a profit, accusing them of collaborating to keep the product off the store shelves. Both companies have issued statements denying the allegations, with Walmart stating that many factors affect sales of any given product, and Post expressing disappointment that consumer demand did not meet expectations. This legal battle highlights the complexities and challenges faced by black-owned businesses in the competitive food industry.