Federal regulators filed suit Tuesday against the parent company of 99 Ranch Market, accusing the popular grocery chain of systematically favoring Chinese employees over non-Chinese workers in hiring, pay and scheduling. The complaint, brought in federal court in Los Angeles, alleges the conduct dates back to at least 2016 and says some non-Chinese staff were effectively pressured to resign.
In a press release from the EEOC, the agency said Tawa Supermarket Inc., which does business as 99 Ranch Market, "violated federal law" and confirmed it filed suit (EEOC v. Tawa Supermarket, Inc., Case No. 8:26-cv-01682) in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California after attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement.
What the EEOC Alleges
The agency’s complaint alleges that, after a leadership change in 2016, the company terminated recently hired non-Chinese managers at multiple locations. It further claims 99 Ranch Market failed to promote non-Chinese store-level workers, paid them less than Chinese co-workers and gave them fewer hours on the schedule. "Customer preference or beliefs that workers from certain groups are more productive do not justify national origin discrimination," Christine Park-Gonzalez, director of the EEOC's Los Angeles District, said in the agency's statement.
Company Footprint and Response
As reported by MyNewsLA, Tawa operates dozens of stores in multiple states and is based in Buena Park. MyNewsLA also noted that a Tawa representative could not immediately be reached for comment.
Legal Context
The EEOC enforces protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars national-origin discrimination and allows courts to award back pay, injunctive relief and other remedies, according to the EEOC. The agency frequently brings pattern-or-practice lawsuits when it believes it has uncovered systemic bias affecting groups of employees.
The EEOC has pursued similar supermarket enforcement actions in the past. For example, it sued Mitsuwa Marketplace in 2009 over alleged pay disparities, highlighting that grocers remain a recurring focus for national-origin enforcement (EEOC).
The new case will now move forward on the Central District docket, where the complaint will spell out the specific relief the EEOC is seeking and set deadlines for the defendant’s response. Hoodline will monitor court filings and local reaction as the matter progresses.
