Alcohol wholesalers lose the tender, dismissing the online sales collusion lawsuit

Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC and Republic National Distributing Co. face allegations that they colluded to monopolize online alcohol sales and push the online distribution platform Provi out of business.

Judge Nancy L. Maldonado of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Thursday denied the distributors’ motion to dismiss “in its entirety,” finding that Provi had sufficiently alleged antitrust violations as well as direct evidence of the defendants’ monopoly power in the online markets. alcohol trading platforms, advertising on these platforms and data analysis services.

The ruling is a blow to Southern Glazer’s and Republic National, both…