{"id":2653525,"date":"2026-09-02T10:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T14:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-expands-beef-price-antitrust-investigation-to-eight-grocery-chains\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T10:52:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T14:52:42","slug":"doj-expands-beef-price-antitrust-investigation-to-eight-grocery-chains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-expands-beef-price-antitrust-investigation-to-eight-grocery-chains\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ expands beef price antitrust investigation to eight grocery chains"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-expands-beef-price-antitrust-investigation-to-eight-grocery-chains%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2653525&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expanding its investigation into the U.S. beef industry to include eight <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/publix-drops-mask-requirement-for-vaccinated-workers\/\" title=\"Publix Drops Mask Requirement for Vaccinated Workers\">major grocery chains<\/a>-Kroger,Publix,Walmart,Albertsons,Aldi,Ahold Delhaize USA,Costco,and Amazon-seeking details about their beef sales,pricing,costs,and purchasing practices amid record beef prices. This move follows previous efforts by the Trump administration to examine industry consolidation and potential anti-competitive behaviour among the top four beef processors-Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef-which dominate about 85% of the market. The DOJ has reviewed millions of documents and interviewed industry stakeholders, raising concerns over high prices, plant closures, and industry concentration that may harm consumers and small producers. Meanwhile, beef prices remain high, with ground beef averaging $6.89 per pound in July. In response to rising costs, former President Trump temporarily eased tariffs on imported beef to increase supply and lower prices, citing declines in the U.S. cattle herd and soaring domestic beef prices during the Biden administration.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"438\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"438\">Justice<\/a> Department<\/a> is expanding its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antitrust\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1187\">antitrust<\/a> investigation into the U.S. beef industry to include eight major <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/food-and-beverage\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"460\">grocery<\/a> chains, seeking information about whether retailers have engaged in price manipulation as beef prices reach record levels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ announced Tuesday that it sent letters to Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize USA, Costco, and Amazon seeking data on beef sales, pricing, costs, margins, and purchasing practices.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4709446\/doj-expands-beef-price-antitrust-investigation-grocery-stores\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ expands beef price antitrust investigation to eight grocery stores<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4709349\/tiger-woods-license-suspension-dui-crash\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tiger Woods\u2019s license suspended for five years over DUI rollover crash<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4707645\/tyler-robinson-trial-allegedly-killing-charlie-kirk\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tyler Robinson will stand trial on charges for allegedly killing Charlie Kirk: Judge<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/beehiiv-publication-files.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/downloadables\/5eeff4b0-987a-4110-ae56-47a6a9b99d19\/ef1819a1-ed22-4527-a337-c2299d7205cf\/Aldi%20Letter%20%2807.14.26%29.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&#038;X-Amz-Credential=AKIAQCMHTQSE2JGAGXHJ%2F20260902%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&#038;X-Amz-Date=20260902T130352Z&#038;X-Amz-Expires=604800&#038;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&#038;X-Amz-Signature=456bd9053e412ae065aa9719d2f504d92c6cee91d2ce2a2a950c28e29b103839\">letter to Aldi<\/a> dated July 14, the DOJ said it was seeking information about the company\u2019s \u201cretail sales and prices, wholesale purchases and prices, costs and margins for beef products, pricing and purchasing strategy,\u201d and its analysis of trends in wholesale and retail beef prices.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expanded investigation comes as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a> has sought to determine whether consolidation in the beef industry is contributing to soaring prices for consumers and squeezing ranchers and cattle producers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In November 2025, President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> directed the Justice Department to investigate the nation\u2019s largest meatpacking companies for \u201ccollusion, price fixing, and price manipulation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ\u2019s investigation initially focused on the four largest beef processors: Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef. The Justice Department said the companies, dubbed the \u201cBig Four,\u201d control roughly 85% of the U.S. beef processing market.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attorney General<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"20883\"> Todd Blanche<\/a> said in a May press conference that the DOJ has since reviewed more than 3 million documents and interviewed industry participants as part of the investigation. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMultiple plant closures across the country, the current market structure, and high concentration in the industry indicate anticompetitive activity,\u201d Blanche said at a news conference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Sarrine has also warned that concentration in the meatpacking industry could harm consumers and small businesses while creating vulnerabilities throughout the beef supply chain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe victims of such anticompetitive coordination can include consumers to whom they sell their products, as well as small and independent businesses that provide necessary inputs \u2014 such as, in the cattle industry, ranchers and cattlemen,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/speech\/deputy-assistant-attorney-general-nicole-sarrine-delivers-remarks-r-calf-usa-2026-annual\">Sarrine said<\/a> in a June speech. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ\u2019s scrutiny comes as consumers face historically high beef prices and a shrinking U.S. cattle herd.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ground beef sold for an average of $6.89 per pound in July, up 10% from a year earlier and nearly $1 more per pound than in 2024.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has sought to address the supply shortage by increasing beef imports. In August, he announced a deal to temporarily ease <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tariffs\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"584\">tariffs<\/a> on imported beef, arguing that the move would help lower prices for American families while U.S. ranchers work to rebuild the domestic cattle herd.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/economy\/4695858\/trump-halt-tariffs-beef-90-days\/\">Trump reaches deal to halt tariffs on beef for 90 days in bid to lower prices<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs everyone knows, under President [Joe] Biden, beef prices soared at their fastest rate and the American beef herd fell to its smallest size in modern history,\u201d Trump wrote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the agreement, the United States would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef products used for ground beef to enter the country without the applicable out-of-quota tariff for 90 days. Trump said importers had committed to selling the beef at 25% below current market prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ probes 8 grocers over beef price hikes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2653526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AP23228604400579-1-scaled-e1788358375312.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5509,82306,45347,85003,85004],"class_list":["post-2653525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-antitrust","tag-beef-prices","tag-doj-investigation","tag-grocery-chains","tag-retail-competition"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AP23228604400579-1-scaled-e1788358375312.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2653525"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2653530,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653525\/revisions\/2653530"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2653526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2653525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2653525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2653525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}