Wisconsin reaches $1M settlement with Roundy’s over pricing and labeling violations
Nov 19, 2024
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) — State officials have reached a $1,003,590.50 settlement with Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., resolving 1,202 alleged short-weight package violations and 90 alleged package labeling violations.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced the settlement with the grocery chain, which operates Pick ’n Save and Metro Market stores in Wisconsin. Under the agreement, Roundy’s does not admit to any violations but will pay civil forfeitures, surcharges, and fees.
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Inspectors from DATCP and municipal weights and measures programs conducted inspections between Dec. 13, 2023, and Jan. 16–18, 2024, at 81 of Roundy’s 105 stores across Wisconsin. Stores in communities such as Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, and others were inspected.
During the survey, inspectors found 1,202 products with inaccurate net weights, meaning customers received less product than advertised. These items were overpriced by an average of $1.44, with one item overpriced by $7.04. Violations involved products like precooked meals, salad kits, sandwiches, baked goods, and fish fillets.
Additionally, inspectors flagged 587 products for labeling errors, with 90 resulting in civil forfeitures. These errors included improperly selling items by count instead of weight and failing to prominently display net quantities on packaging.
“Consumers have a right to receive the true value of the products they pay for,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “This settlement will ensure fair prices and improve compliance moving forward.”
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Roundy’s previously received 63 warning letters from DATCP for similar violations between 2018 and 2023 and paid civil forfeitures in 2018, 2022, and 2023 totaling $20,659.
As part of the settlement, Roundy’s committed to implementing corrective measures, including new signage in production areas, updated standard operating procedures, employee training, and random internal weight and label checks.