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Ace Hardware Sued for Price Fixing Scheme
9 May
Summary
- Ace Hardware faces lawsuit over alleged nationwide price-fixing.
- Lawsuit claims coordination on retail prices and store locations.
- Over 5 million consumers may have been overcharged since 2022.
A new lawsuit filed in federal court in Chicago accuses Ace Hardware of operating an illegal nationwide price-fixing scheme. The suit, initiated by an Illinois resident on behalf of over 5 million consumers, claims Ace and its member stores have violated U.S. antitrust law for years. Allegations include coordinated retail pricing and restrictions on where stores can open, which the lawsuit asserts have eliminated competition.
Ace Hardware, founded in 1924 and owned by a cooperative of independent retail operators, reported a record $10 billion in revenue for 2025. The lawsuit contends that the cooperative structure has transformed into an illegal cartel through shared pricing data and location limitations. Ace and its software provider, Epicor, allegedly use point-of-sale data to fix prices and boost profit margins, presenting a consistent but inflated price image to shoppers.
The complaint also states that Ace hinders competition by preventing new stores from opening near existing ones. The plaintiff's legal team aims to stop these alleged practices, which they claim have overcharged consumers for years. The case seeks unspecified damages and a court order to halt the alleged price-fixing. The lawsuit is Sean Twomey v Ace Hardware Corp et al, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
