Snoop Dogg, Master P.Photo:David Livingston/Getty Images; Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
David Livingston/Getty Images; Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Snoop DoggandMaster P’s Broadus Foods is suing Walmart and Post Foods, alleging that the companies “collaborated to prevent” their flagship Snoop Cereal “from reaching consumers.”
Snoop Cereal.Broadus Foods
Broadus Foods
In a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, a spokesperson for Walmart shared that the company “values our relationships with our suppliers, and we have a strong history of supporting entrepreneurs.”
“Many factors affect the sales of any given product, including consumer demand, seasonality, and price to name a few,” the spokesperson said. “We will respond as appropriate with the Court once we are served with the complaint.”
Post told PEOPLE that the company “was excited to partner with Broadus Foods and we made substantial investments in the business” and that it was “equally disappointed that consumer demand did not meet expectations.”
As the lawsuit states, Snoop and Master P’s Broadus Foods was established in 2022 as a company offering food that’s “affordable for all families” with its two main brands, Snoop Cereal and Momma Snoop.
The musicians eventually approached Post in an effort to “get Snoop Cereal on retail floors” and entered into an agreement without selling the brand, per the suit. Post agreed to split profits with Broadus under a Partnership and Promotion Agreement, in which Post would “produce and distribute” the cereal to multiple retailers, including Target, Walmart and Amazon, per the filing.
Snoop Dogg and Master P attend Super Bowl XXXVI - Jam Sports All Star Celebrity Basketball Game.Theo Wargo/WireImage
Theo Wargo/WireImage
The complaint then argues that Snoop Cereal should have been “placed on Walmart’s shelves right next to the dozens of other Post branded cereals” and that the the company “was not on board with their goals and dreams and was not on board with treating Snoop Cereal equally as its own brands.”
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They allege that despite the cereal being an “immediate success” and receiving positive reviews online, customers at Walmart “could not locate” the product. The complaint claims that Snoop Cereal boxes were being kept in stockrooms and not available to customers despite being listed as sold out, which “automatically resulted in losses to the product.”
Broadus Foods is seeking damages — including lost profits, marketing costs, lost opportunities, and more — of over $50,000 and is requesting a jury trial.
Master P said at a media briefing, perNBC News, that the suit is “about minority-owned companies getting a fair share.”
“We ain’t build this brand to sell it," Snoop added.
source: people.com
