Supervalu is mulling an appeal after a US court fined the retailer US$16m for forcing an independent grocer in Virginia out of business.
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Jonathan Johnson, a former grocer in the city of Richmond, was awarded the payout after the court agreed that Supervalu had failed to back him when he tried to expand his business.
According to local reports, Johnson, who had owned a five-store chain in Richmond, had seen his chain of Community Pride stores collapse and claimed the end of his business was linked to his dealings with Supervalu.
The reports claimed that while Supervalu had entered into loan and supply contracts with Johnson, when the grocer tried to expand his store chain, they stopped supporting him.
However, Supervalu is refusing to throw in the towel. “Supervalu is disappointed in this verdict and we believe the outcome of the trial is contrary to the law and the facts that were presented in this case,” the retailer said late on Friday (8 June). “We intend to file a motion for a new trial and if necessary pursue an appeal.”
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By GlobalData
