Claims by H.J. Heinz Company and other packaged goods firms that News Corp. is violating antitrust laws in the in-store promotion market have been granted class status by a federal judge.

Southern District Judge William Pauley said a class action was the proper choice for allegations that News Corp. abuses its 80 percent market share for supermarket signage, end-of-aisle displays, shelf-mounted displays, freezer displays and floor signage at some 52,000 retail stores.

The case is The Dial Corporation v. News Corp., 13-cv-06802, where News Corp boasts of its “one-stop shopping” for its in-store promotion businesses, which is part of News America marketing. But the Dial Corp., Heinz and other packaged goods firms say it maintains a monopoly by using long-term exclusive contracts with retailers and the packaged goods firms.