This week, two Teamster locals won new contracts with the behemoth food distributor Sysco, ending a nearly monthlong strike that drew national support. More than 200 workers for Sysco — America’s largest food distributor — went on strike in Syracuse, N.Y., on September 27. Days later, more than 300 drivers for Sysco Boston went on strike in Massachusetts. Workers in Arizona also reportedly struck in solidarity.

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Concerns about Sysco’s dominance in the market prompted advocacy and industry groups — led by the American Economic Liberties Project — to send a letter October 6 to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice, which alleges price gouging and other deceptive business practices by Sysco and other broadline distributors. ​“The consolidated foodservice distribution industry has been using the cover of pandemic-related supply-chain and inflation issues to flex its market power over its smallest customers — and thereby extract ever-more wealth from local communities,” the letter reads.

Moe Tkacik, a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project who has worked with restaurant and business owners through the organization’s campaigns, explains that smaller restaurants tend to be treated with worse service and often receive ​“comical” food substitutions (Castricone recalls once ordering rice and receiving pomegranate juice). Sysco is ​“widely reviled” by customers, Tkacik tells In These Times.

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