Woodman’s sues Clorox over alleged anti-competitive practices

Janesville-based Woodman’s Food Markets has filed a suit against Clorox Corp. claiming the company violated federal law by cutting off the store’s supply of large packs of Clorox products. Woodman’s was reportedly told that the large packs would be available exclusively to member-only retailers, such as Sam’s Club or Costco, a change that Woodman’s claims violates the federal Robinson-Patman Act prohibiting anti-competitive practices, including price discrimination. The grocery chain, which has 15 stores in Wisconsin and Illinois, believes the Clorox decision will hurt its ability to compete against larger retail entities.