Allegations surface about Giant Eagle's winning LeNature bid

PITTSBURGH Giant Eagle’s winning bid of $20 million for bankrupt LeNature’s bottling plant was called into question Wednesday with both the Associated Press and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporting that Giant Eagle may have allegedly coerced Cadbury-Schweppes into not filing a higher bid.

Accordingly, the purchase is on hold while trustee Todd Nielson investigates those allegations. A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 30 to discuss the allegations.

"We consider this to be a serious incident," Neilson told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for Wednesday’s editions. "I"m not saying anything illegal, unethical, or improper occurred at this time."

Giant Eagle has declined to comment, except to say that they are cooperating with the investigation.