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 (RPA). 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 recognition that unequal access to wholesale pricing undermines fair competition. But in practice, the Act has been functionally dormant for decades — and rural America is paying the price. Rural grocery stores are being accused of price gouging by customers and politicians seeking a soundbite for the news. In actuality, they are fighting for their very existence.
Walk into any Walmart or Dollar General, and you’ll find goods priced lower than what many independent grocers can even buy wholesale. Why? It’s not because they are being nice. It’s because massive national chains strongarm discounts and allowances that suppliers do not extend to small stores. This isn’t just savvy business — it’s the kind of price discrimination the RPA was meant to outlaw. And yet, enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been virtually nonexistent since the 1980s. Many customers, unwittingly, are supporting this abuse by shopping at these types of stores instead of their local stores due to these discrepancies.
The consequences are devastating and the risk is getting worse. As independent grocery stores shutter, rural residents face “food deserts,” often having to drive hours to access fresh food. This isn’t merely an inconvenience — it’s a public health crisis. Studies link food insecurity to chronic disease, poor child development, and even shortened life expectancy. Local grocers aren’t just selling food — they’re sustaining communities.
Moreover, these small businesses support local economies. They employ their neighbors, buy from local producers, and keep profits circulating within the community. When a national chain store replaces a hometown grocer, the long-term economic drain can be profound.
Some argue that the market is simply doing what it does — rewarding efficiency and low prices. But the market isn’t free when it’s rigged. When a giant chain can undercut local competition solely because it receives sweetheart deals from suppliers, that’s not competition — it’s coercion. And it’s illegal under existing law.
There is growing momentum, finally, for a revival of antitrust enforcement. The FTC, under new leadership, has signaled a willingness to revisit dormant laws. Reviving the Robinson-Patman Act wouldn’t solve every problem facing rural grocers. Still, it would level the playing field sending a clear message: equal treatment under the law applies to businesses of all sizes.
This isn’t about nostalgia or resisting change — it’s about fairness. It’s about ensuring that every community, no matter how small, has a fighting chance to feed itself, to sustain local jobs, and to preserve its way of life. Sadly, we can already see the effects of the inaction. In North Dakota alone, over the last 10 years, we have lost nearly 50 grocery stores. In Nebraska, between 2016 and 2021, they saw over 30% of their supermarkets go out of business.
If we continue to ignore the law and the RPA, we’re not just allowing rural grocery stores to fail — we’re permitting the slow, silent dismantling of rural America. It’s time for the FTC to enforce the law — and in doing so, protect the communities that have fed this since its founding. The sad truth is, what is happening today is why the law was passed in the first place.
Doug Highland, Devils Lake, ND
Verified by telephone Monday, Sep. 22, 2025 – LAO
Doug Highland currently works for Leevers Foods, based out of Devils Lake. He strongly emphasizes that these views are his and not necessarily Leevers Foods.
