Frozen Potato Giants Accused of Price-Fixing in U.S. Lawsuits

Four companies controlling 95% of the U.S. frozen potato market allegedly coordinated price hikes, driving a 47% increase in product costs since 2022.

Multiple federal lawsuits accuse Cavendish Farms, Lamb Weston, McCain Foods, and J.R. Simplot Company of antitrust violations for allegedly conspiring to fix prices of frozen potato products.
The lawsuits claim the companies used shared pricing data and direct communication to coordinate price increases starting in 2021, impacting products like french fries, hash browns, and tater tots.
Frozen potato prices reportedly rose 47% from July 2022 to 2024, even as input costs for the companies declined, according to court filings.
The lawsuits also name a data aggregator and a trade association as enablers of the alleged price-fixing scheme by facilitating the exchange of sensitive pricing information among competitors.
Defendants deny the allegations, with McCain Foods and Lamb Weston stating they intend to vigorously contest the lawsuits in court.