H Mart Joins Antitrust Fight vs Tuna Companies

New Jersey-based Grand Supercenter, a subsidiary of retail chain H Mart, has filed a lawsuit against the American tuna companies Bumble Bee Foods and StarKist.

The U.S. Justice Department has been pursuing criminal charges in the alleged seafood pricing conspiracy; and other players in the seafood industry, such as H Mart, are pursuing civil antitrust claims based on the same conduct.

The original class action complaint was filed by Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative in 2015, and dozens of similar lawsuits have been filed in courts across the country since then. Other companies that have also sued include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Meijer, Inc., Publix Super Markets, Inc., Kroger Co., Albertsons Companies, LLC, Hy-Vee, Inc., and Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

Grand Supercenter Inc. v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC et al

Plaintiff: Grand Supercenter Inc.

Defendants: Bumble Bee Foods LLC
Starkist Company
Dongwon Industries Co. Ltd.
Tri-Union Seafoods LLC
Thai Union Group PCL

Case Number: 1:2017cv07244
Filed: September 22, 2017
Court: New York Southern District Court
Office: Foley Square Office
Nature of Suit: Antitrust
Cause of Action: 15:1
Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff

In 2008, StarKist was acquired by the South Korean firm Dongwon Industries from Del Monte Foods for $363 million.

Details to be added as they become available.