New York v. Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores, Lenox, Inc., and Waterford Wedgewood U.S.A. (In the Matter of Tabletop Investigation)

In 2001 the retailer Bed, Bath and Beyond planned to introduce Lenox and Waterford products as “anchors” for the company’s new tableware department. An investigation by the NY Attorney General’s Antitrust Bureau revealed that Federated and May pressured Lenox and Waterford to pull out of the BB&B roll-out. As a result Bed, Bath and Beyond was unable to offer consumers tableware supplied by Lenox and Waterford as planned. The effect of the unlawful boycott was to eliminate and suppress competition in the sale of consumer products in NY and elsewhere. In 2004 the companies agreed to a settlement that included civil penalties and the prohibition of future boycott activity.