In the heart of America, small towns are dying not from lack of will or work ethic, but from the steady erosion of their economic foundations. Among the most critical losses is the disappearance of independent rural grocery stores — once vital community hubs that now struggle to survive. While many blame market trends or consumer preference, there's a more insidious culprit that too few are talking about: the government’s failure to enforce the Robinson-Patman Act. This law was designed to protect small retailers from unfair, discriminatory pricing practices.

At its core, the law prohibits suppliers from giving deep discounts to large chain stores unless those same prices are made available to smaller competitors who can purchase similar quantities. The impetus behind the RPA was the reco

See Full Page