The Federal Trade Commission has sued to block the largest proposed supermarket merger in U.S. history — Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of the Albertsons Cos. Inc. — alleging that the deal is anticompetitive.
The FTC charges that the proposed deal will eliminate fierce competition between Kroger and Albertsons, leading to higher prices for groceries and other essential household items for millions of Americans. The loss of competition will also lead to lower-quality products and services, while also narrowing consumers’ choices for where to shop for groceries. For thousands of grocery store workers, Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would immediately erase aggressive competition for workers, threatening the ability of employees to secure higher wages, better benefits and improved working conditions.