2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations › Chapter 100 - Marketing; trade practices. › 100.201 - Unfair trade practices in the dairy industry.

100.201
Unfair trade practices in the dairy industry.
(1)
Definitions. Unless context requires otherwise:
(a)
“Broker" means any person engaged in negotiating sales or purchases of selected dairy products for or on behalf of a retailer or wholesaler or both.
(b)
1.
“Retailer" means every person making any sale of selected dairy products at retail within this state unless otherwise excepted; provided, that in the case of a person making both sales at retail and sales at wholesale such term shall apply only to the retail portion of such sales. “Retailer" does not include the United States, the state, any municipality as defined in s. 345.05 (1) (c), or any religious, charitable or educational organization or institution, but does include any other person engaged in the business of making retail sales wholly or in part for the person's own profit at an institution operated by such an exempt party.
2.
For the purpose of this section any subsidiary or affiliate corporation, limited liability company, cooperative, or unincorporated cooperative association, and any officer, director, partner, member or manager of a corporation, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership or limited liability company which is a retailer of selected dairy products, and any individual, corporation, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership, limited liability company, association or any other business unit which owns, controls or franchises any retailer or which has any retailer as an affiliate, member or subsidiary, is deemed to be a retailer of selected dairy products and the prohibitions of sub. (2) shall also apply to any such person or business unit which sells any selected dairy product at wholesale.
(c)
1.
“Selected dairy products" means:
a.
Milk, skim milk, fortified milk, flavored milk, flavored skim milk, buttermilk, cream, sour cream, half and half, whipping cream, whipped cream and cottage cheese; and
b.
Ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, custard, water ices, quiescently frozen ices and frozen dessert novelties manufactured from any such products.
2.
The department may by rule, after hearing, designate as selected dairy products such other products derived in whole or in part from milk as it finds necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.
3.
In no event shall there be designated as selected dairy products any of the following:
a.
Powdered dry milk or powdered dry cream.
b.
Condensed, concentrated or evaporated milk in hermetically sealed containers.
c.
Butter or cheese, other than cottage cheese.
(d)
“Sell at retail," “sales at retail" and “retail sales" include any transfer for a valuable consideration made in the course of trade or conduct of the seller's business, of title to tangible personal property to the purchaser for consumption or use other than resale or further processing or manufacturing, and include any transfer of such property where title is retained by the seller as security for the payment of the purchase price.
(e)
“Sell at wholesale," “sales at wholesale" and “wholesale sales" include any transfer for a valuable consideration made in the course of trade or conduct of the seller's business, of title to tangible personal property to the purchaser for purposes of resale or further processing or manufacturing, and include any transfer of such property where title is retained by the seller as security for the payment of the purchase price.
(f)
1.
“Wholesaler" means every person making sales of selected dairy products at wholesale within this state, unless otherwise excepted; provided, that in the case of a person making both sales at retail and sales at wholesale such term shall apply only to the wholesale portion of such business.
2.
For the purpose of this section any subsidiary or affiliate corporation, limited liability company, cooperative, or unincorporated cooperative association, and any officer, director, partner, member or manager of a corporation, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, partnership or limited liability company which is a wholesaler of selected dairy products, is deemed to be a wholesaler of selected dairy products.
(1m)
Applicability. This section is applicable to consignment sales and a consignor shall be deemed to be a wholesaler and a consignee to be a retailer for the purposes of this section.
(2)
Prohibitions. Each of the practices described in this subsection is declared to be an unfair trade practice. It is unlawful for any person to be engaged in such practices. No wholesaler shall:
(a)
1.
Give or extend discounts or rebates, directly or indirectly, to retailers or other wholesalers on selected dairy products or give or extend to such purchasers any services connected with the delivery, handling or stocking of such products except in accordance with published price lists. A wholesaler may sell selected dairy products at a price different from or with services less than or additional to those in said published price list in order to meet a bona fide offer by a competitor to a particular retailer or wholesaler, but such discount, rebate or service shall not be given until the wholesaler first makes a written record of the date of such competitive offer, the terms thereof, the name of the retailer or wholesaler to whom made and the name of the competitor by whom made. Such record shall be available within this state for inspection and copying by any retailer or wholesaler upon the retailer's or wholesaler's written request therefor. It is the duty of every wholesaler under this subsection to prepare and publish as hereinafter provided current price lists giving the prices of all selected dairy products sold by the wholesaler at wholesale, directly or indirectly, to retailers or other wholesalers, including all discounts, rebates and services connected with the delivery, handling or stocking of such products, giving the effective dates of such prices, and giving the amount paid or anything of value given or granted by the wholesaler for such sales made through a broker as commission, brokerage, allowance or other compensation. Such price lists shall be available within this state for inspection and copying by any retailer or wholesaler upon the retailer's or wholesaler's written request therefor.
2.
Every wholesaler shall file with the department the address of the wholesaler's principal business office in this state, if any. If a wholesaler has such a principal business address in this state written request for any record or price list required to be made available under this subsection shall be sent to such business office and the information requested shall be made available there. A wholesaler having no principal business office within this state shall file with the department or a designated agent approved by the department such current records or price lists required to be made available under this subsection. Such current records or price lists shall be available for inspection and copying by any retailer or wholesaler upon the retailer's or wholesaler's written request therefor. The failure or refusal of any wholesaler to make available for inspection and copying any record or price list required to be made available under this subsection within 24 hours after a request has been received or to file with the department current records or price lists as required shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection.
3.
In case of the failure or refusal of any wholesaler to make available or file any record or price list as required by this paragraph, any court of record of competent jurisdiction shall, upon a showing of such failure or refusal, and upon notice, order said wholesaler to give to the retailer or wholesaler so requesting, within a specified time, an inspection thereof, with permission to make a copy therefrom, or to file such information with the department.
(b)
Discriminate in price, directly or indirectly, between different purchasers of selected dairy products of like grade and quality where the effect of such discrimination may be substantially to lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly, or to injure, destroy or prevent competition with any person who either grants or knowingly receives the benefit of such discrimination, or with customers of either of them. Proof made at any proceeding under this paragraph that there has been discrimination in price shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of such charges. The burden of rebutting such prima facie evidence by a showing of justification shall be upon the person charged with the violation. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent any person charged with a violation of this paragraph from rebutting such prima facie evidence by showing that the person's lower price was made in good faith to meet an equally low price of a competitor. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to apply to the submission of bids to or sales to the United States, the state, any municipality as defined in s. 345.05 (1) (c), or any religious, charitable or educational organization or institution. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent:
1.
Price differentials which merely allow for differences in the cost of manufacture, sale or delivery resulting from the differing methods or quantities in which such selected dairy products are sold or delivered to such purchasers.
2.
Persons engaged in selling selected dairy products from selecting their own customers in bona fide transactions and not in restraint of trade.
3.
Price changes from time to time resulting from changing conditions affecting the market for or the marketability of the selected dairy products concerned, including but not limited to actual or imminent deterioration, obsolescence, distress sales under court process, or sales in good faith in discontinuance of business in the selected dairy products concerned.
(c)
Make payments of money, credit, gifts or loans to retailers as rental for the storage or display of selected dairy products on the premises where they are offered for sale by the retailer.
(d)
Make or underwrite loans to a retailer or become bound in any manner for the financial obligation of any retailer except that a wholesaler may lend money to a retailer for the purchase of equipment for the storage, transportation, and display of selected dairy products, provided the loan is for not more than 90 percent of the purchase price, bears at least a 5 percent annual interest rate, is payable in equal monthly installments over a period of not more than 48 months, and is secured by a security interest created by a security agreement specifying all payments by the retailer and duly filed by the wholesaler within 10 days after the making or underwriting of said loan, as provided in subch. V of ch. 409 regarding debtors who are located in this state.
(e)
Furnish, sell, give, lend or rent any equipment to a retailer except:
1.
The wholesaler, under a bill of sale or security agreement describing the property sold and specifying the price and terms of sale duly filed by the wholesaler under subch. V of ch. 409 within 10 days after delivery of the equipment described therein, may sell equipment for the storage, transportation, and display of selected dairy products to the retailer but the selling price shall be not less than the cost to the wholesaler, less 10 percent per year depreciation, plus transportation and installation costs, plus at least 6 percent, but in no event shall it be less than $100 per unit. In filing bills of sale under this section, the filing officer shall follow the procedure under subch. V of ch. 409 regarding debtors who are located in this state insofar as applicable. If the wholesaler makes the sale under a security agreement, the terms of sale shall be no more favorable to the retailer than those under sub. (2) (d). Failure by any wholesaler to enforce the wholesaler's security interest under this paragraph or sub. (2) (d) if a retailer is in default for more than 90 days shall constitute prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. No wholesaler shall renegotiate a security agreement which is in default.
2.
The wholesaler may provide without restriction coin-vending machines from which the product vended is consumed on the premises.
3.
The wholesaler may furnish equipment to retailers for the storage, transportation or display of selected dairy products for one period of not longer than 10 consecutive days a year to any one retailer for use at a fair, exhibition, exposition or other event for agricultural, industrial, charitable, educational, religious or recreational purposes.
4.
A wholesaler who furnishes, lends or rents the use of equipment for the storage or display of selected dairy products to any person exempt under sub. (1) (b) 1. shall not sell selected dairy products which will be stored or displayed in such equipment to any retailer using the equipment on the premises of such exempt person unless such retailer purchases said equipment in accordance with this paragraph or par. (d). Nothing in this paragraph shall limit sales of selected dairy products to retailers in conjunction with equipment furnished under subd. 3.
5.
A wholesaler may sell or rent portable freezer cabinets, each with a storage capacity not exceeding 12 cubic feet, to retailers for the purpose of displaying frozen dessert novelties to retail customers.
(f)
Maintain or make repairs of any equipment owned by a retailer except those used exclusively for selected dairy products. On such repairs the wholesaler shall make charges for the service and parts at the same prices as are charged by 3rd persons rendering such service in the community where the retailer is located but in no event shall the charges be less than the cost thereof to the wholesaler plus a reasonable margin of profit.
(g)
Extend or give credit to any retailer in excess of 30 days payable 15 days thereafter.
(h)
1.
Sell or offer to sell, directly or indirectly, any selected dairy product at less than cost with the purpose or intent of injuring, destroying or eliminating competition or a competitor or creating a monopoly, or where the effect may be any of the same. This paragraph shall apply to all sales, including those made to any instrumentality of state or local government and to all religious, charitable or educational organizations or institutions, but does not apply to sales made to the United States.
2.
“Cost" of a selected dairy product to a wholesaler means that portion of all of the cost of raw product plus all costs of manufacturing, processing, packaging, handling, sale, delivery and overhead of such wholesaler which, under a system of accounting in accordance with sound accounting principles and reasonably adapted to the business of such wholesaler, is fairly allocable to such selected dairy product and the sale thereof to its customers or to a particular class thereof. Such cost shall include, but not be limited to, all expenses for labor, salaries, bonuses, fringe benefits, administration, rent, interest, depreciation, power, raw and processed ingredients, materials, packaging, supplies, maintenance of equipment, selling, advertising, transportation, delivery, credit losses, license and other fees, taxes, insurance, and other fixed and incidental operating expenses and costs of doing business.
3.
The department may by rule after hearing adopt a uniform system of accounting to be used by the department in determining the cost of a selected dairy product and to require wholesalers to file reports of such cost based upon such adopted system of accounting.
4.
Proof made at any proceeding under this paragraph of a sale or offer to sell, directly or indirectly, any selected dairy product at less than cost as determined by department rule, if adopted, shall be prima facie evidence that it was made with the purpose or intent of injuring, destroying or eliminating competition or a competitor or creating a monopoly and that the effect may be any of the same. The burden of rebutting such prima facie evidence shall be upon the person charged with a violation of this paragraph. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent any person charged with a violation of this paragraph from rebutting such prima facie evidence by showing that the person's sale or offer to sell was made in good faith to meet competition.
5.
This paragraph shall also apply to any retailer who owns, operates or otherwise contracts for, directly or indirectly, facilities for manufacturing or processing any selected dairy product, and to the cost of a selected dairy product, as defined in this paragraph, shall be added both the wholesale and retail markup as provided in s. 100.30.
(i)
1.
Give, offer to give, furnish, finance or otherwise make available, directly or indirectly, to any retailer or to any other person doing business with a retailer anything of value which is connected with, or which aids or assists in, or which may induce or encourage, the purchase, handling, sale, offering for sale or promotion of the sale of the wholesaler's selected dairy products by a retailer or any other person doing business with a retailer, unless given, offered, furnished, financed or otherwise made available on proportionately equal terms to all other retailers or persons doing business with retailers. The term “anything of value" as used herein includes, but is not limited to:
a.
Any payment, discount, rebate, allowance, gift, goods, merchandise, privilege, contest, service or facility, whether or not given, offered, furnished, financed or otherwise made available in combination with or contingent on a purchase, or as compensation for or in consideration of the furnishing of any service or facility by or through a retailer.
b.
Any transaction involving the use of a coupon, token, slip, punch card, trading stamp or other device similar in nature, including any part of a container or package intended to be used as such device, and which transaction involves any participation by or purchase from a retailer.
2.
Nothing in subd. 1. prevents:
a.
The good faith meeting of competition by offering or making available services and facilities offered or made available by a competitor.
b.
Transactions with retailers otherwise permitted under pars. (d), (e), (f) and (g) and sub. (3).
3.
Nothing in this paragraph authorizes the sale of selected dairy products, or the furnishing of services or facilities in violation of pars. (a) to (h).
(3)
Operation of retail outlet by wholesaler. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit the operation of a retail outlet by a wholesaler for retail sales or to prohibit the use by the wholesaler in such retail outlet of any equipment or advertising or miscellaneous matter owned by the wholesaler provided that such retail outlet is under direct control and management of the wholesaler.
(4)
Unlawful acts of retailers. It is unlawful for any retailer or any officer, director, employee or agent thereof to solicit or receive, directly or indirectly, from or through a wholesaler, broker or another retailer, anything which is prohibited by sub. (2), where the retailer, officer, director, employee or agent knows or, in the exercise of reasonable prudence, should know that the same is prohibited.
(5)
Unlawful acts of brokers.
(a)
It is unlawful for a broker, or any officer or agent thereof, to participate, directly or indirectly, in any unfair trade practice described in sub. (2).
(b)
It is unlawful for a wholesaler to engage or offer to engage in any unfair trade practice described in sub. (2), directly or indirectly, through a broker.
(6)
Fee on dairy products.
(a)
1.
Except as provided in subd. 2., a manufacturer or processor of selected dairy products shall pay a fee under par. (c) on its sales of those selected dairy products to which all of the following apply:
a.
The sales are at wholesale or retail.
b.
The sales are made to persons in this state.
c.
The selected dairy products are packaged for sale to consumers.
2.
Subdivision 1. does not apply to the operator of a retail food establishment licensed under s. 97.30 who manufactures or processes selected dairy products at that establishment solely for retail sale at that establishment.
(b)
The first person in this state to receive selected dairy products that are manufactured or processed outside of this state and that are packaged for sale to consumers shall pay a fee under par. (c) on sales of those selected dairy products to persons in this state.
(c)
The fee under this subsection is 5.49 cents per hundred pounds of ice cream products and 0.44 cent per hundred pounds of other dairy products or such other amount as specified by the department by rule. The fee shall be paid to the department by the 25th day of each month for sales made during the preceding month.
(d)
The failure to pay fees under this subsection within the time provided under par. (c) is a violation of this section. The department may also commence an action to recover the amount of any overdue fees plus interest at the rate of 2 percent per month for each month that the fees are delinquent.
(e)
The department shall keep confidential information obtained under this subsection concerning the amount of dairy products sold by specific manufacturers and processors.
(7)
Applicability. The provisions of ss. 133.04 and 133.05 shall not apply to any conduct either permitted, required or prohibited under this section.
(8)
Enforcement. It is the duty of the department to investigate, ascertain and determine whether this section or lawful orders issued hereunder are being violated and for such purposes the department shall have all the powers conferred by ch. 93.
(8m)
Jurisdiction. This section shall apply to transactions, acts or omissions which take place in whole or in part outside this state. In any action or administrative proceeding the department has jurisdiction of the person served under s. 801.11 when any act or omission outside this state by the defendant or respondent results in local injury or may have the effect of injuring competition or a competitor in this state or unfairly diverts trade or business from a competitor, if at the time:
(a)
Solicitation or service activities were carried on within this state by or on behalf of the defendant or respondent; or
(b)
Selected dairy products processed, serviced, distributed or manufactured by the defendant or respondent were received for resale in this state at retail or wholesale without regard to where sale or delivery takes place.
(9)
Penalties.
(a)
Any person violating this section shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 for each violation.
(b)
The department, after public hearing held under s. 93.18, may issue a special order against any person requiring such person to cease and desist from acts, practices or omissions determined by the department to violate this section. Such orders shall be subject to judicial review under ch. 227. Any violation of a special order issued hereunder shall be punishable as a contempt under ch. 785 in the manner provided for disobedience of a lawful order of a court, upon the filing of an affidavit by the department of the commission of such violation in any court of record in the county where the violation occurred.
(c)
The department, in addition to or in lieu of any other remedies herein provided, may apply to a circuit court for a temporary or permanent injunction to prevent, restrain or enjoin any person from violating this section or any special order of the department issued hereunder, without being compelled to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist.
(d)
The provisions of s. 93.06 (7) shall be applicable to violations of this section insofar as permits, certificates, registrations or licenses issued by the department for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of selected dairy products are concerned, provided that any suspension or revocation thereof pursuant to s. 93.06 (7) can be ordered only for failure to comply with any special order issued pursuant to par. (b) or with any permanent injunction issued pursuant to par. (c), should such failure continue after such order or such injunction becomes final on the completion of any review proceedings. In such proceedings the department shall follow the hearing procedure set forth in s. 93.18 for special orders. Judicial review shall be as provided in ch. 227.
(e)
Any person suffering pecuniary loss because of any violation of this section may sue for damages therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall recover treble the amount of such pecuniary loss, together with costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee.
(f)
Any retailer or wholesaler may file a written verified complaint with the department alleging facts which, if proved, would support a charge that a person named therein is engaging in unfair trade practices as defined in this section. Whenever such a complaint is filed it is the duty of the department to proceed to hearing and adjudication as provided in par. (b).
(g)
A final judgment, decree or order hereafter rendered in any civil or criminal action or special proceeding, or in any special order proceeding under par. (b), brought by or on behalf of the state under this section to the effect that a defendant or respondent has violated said law shall be prima facie evidence against such defendant or respondent in any action or special proceeding brought by any other party against such defendant or respondent under said law, as to all matters respecting which said judgment, decree or order would be an estoppel as between the parties thereto but this subsection shall not apply to judgments, decrees or special orders entered by consent.
(10)
Removal or sale of equipment. Any equipment furnished by wholesalers to retailers prior to August 17, 1963, shall be removed from the retailers' premises or sold pursuant to sub. (2) (d) or (e) by January 1, 1964. The minimum selling price of such equipment, if fully depreciated in accordance with sub. (2) (e), shall not be less than $10 per unit.
(11)
Rule making. The department may promulgate rules which are necessary for the efficient administration of this section. The department may also promulgate rules which set standards for the nondiscriminatory sale and furnishing of services or facilities in connection with the sale or distribution of selected dairy products and for the good faith meeting of competition.
History:  1971 c. 238; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 774 (1975); 1975 c. 39, 199, 401; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (13); 1979 c. 209 s. 4; 1983 a. 62; 1983 a. 189 ss. 133 to 135, 329 (20), (31); 1987 a. 399; 1993 a. 112, 492; 1995 a. 27, 225; 2001 a. 10, 72; 2005 a. 253, 441.