As panicked shoppers stocked up on grocery essentials during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the California-based discount grocery chain Smart & Final made them pay.
The company engaged in price gouging on four premium egg products between March 4 and June 22, 2020, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Tuesday as his office announced a settlement with the Commerce-based supermarket company.
Following Gov. Gavin Newsom's state of emergency declaration on March 4, 2020, companies were prohibited from selling food and other necessities for more than 10% higher than pre-emergency prices, unless it was a direct result of increased supply or labor and production costs.
