The Beef Trust

The Beef Trust was a powerful group of large meatpacking companies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that collaborated to control the beef industry. They coordinated prices, limited competition, and influenced market supply to maximize profits, effectively acting as a monopoly. This concentration of power reduced competition, increased prices for consumers, and led to public concerns about unfair business practices. The trust was a significant example of industrial consolidation, prompting reforms like antitrust laws to promote competition and prevent similar monopolies in the future.