Walmart and Post Consumer Brands Accused of Undermining Snoop Dogg and Master P’s Cereal Brands in Lawsuit
In a surprising turn of events, retail giant Walmart and Post Consumer Brands have been hit with a lawsuit filed by rappers Snoop Dogg and Master P, accusing them of undermining their cereal brands. The lawsuit alleges that Walmart and Post deliberately made the cereals unaffordable and kept them hidden in stockrooms, preventing consumers from accessing them.
According to the lawsuit filed by Broadus Foods, the company founded by Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus) and Master P (Percy Miller), the rappers entered into a profit-sharing agreement with Post to produce and distribute their cereal brands, Snoop Cereal and Momma Snoop. The intention behind these brands was to create a legacy for their children.
However, the lawsuit claims that Post had ulterior motives and did not treat Snoop Cereal equally as its own brands. The rappers state that Post ensured the cereal would either be unavailable to consumers or priced at exorbitant costs, eliminating any profit for Broadus Foods. Furthermore, the cereal mysteriously disappeared from Walmart stores within months of its launch in July 2023.
The complaint reveals that many Walmart stores displayed online and in-store applications indicating that Snoop Cereal was sold out or out of stock. However, upon investigation by store employees, it was discovered that these stores had boxes of Snoop Cereal in their stockrooms, intentionally coded to not be placed on store shelves.
The pricing of the cereal also contradicted the goal of Broadus Foods to offer affordable food. The rappers argue that the decision to price the cereal at over $10 per box went against their vision of creating a family-owned company that promotes diversity in the food industry and provides opportunities for minority-owned products.
Los Angeles attorney Ben Crump, who represents Snoop Dogg and Master P, stated that Broadus Foods aimed to inspire economic empowerment among minorities and contribute to charitable causes addressing hunger and homelessness. Crump accused Post of sabotaging the success of Snoop Cereal through deceptive practices.
In response, Post Consumer Brands released a statement expressing their disappointment that consumer demand did not meet expectations. They claimed to have made substantial investments in the partnership with Broadus Foods and emphasized their commitment to supporting entrepreneurs. Walmart also issued a statement, highlighting their history of supporting suppliers and stating that they would respond appropriately once served with the complaint.
This lawsuit raises questions about the treatment of minority-owned businesses and the influence of large corporations in the food industry. It remains to be seen how the court will respond to these allegations and whether Snoop Dogg and Master P will receive justice for their claims.
