A Colorado judge postponed the Kroger – Albertsons merger yesterday, granting a preliminary injunction hearing that will take place over the course of two weeks beginning September 30. The proposed $24.6 billion merger had been challenged by the state attorney general.
The merger is also facing a multi-state lawsuit led by the Federal Trade Commission and a separate lawsuit in Washington state. The hearing in the FTC case is set for August 26 in Washington, D.C.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser called the decision “great news for shoppers, workers, farmers, and other suppliers, who can rest assured that this megamerger will not go into effect during harvest season and while kids are headed back to school… my office looks forward to making the case that this merger will eliminate competition and impact food prices, jobs, and consumer choice.”
In a statement, Kroger said “We look forward to defending in court how the combination of Kroger and Albertsons will provide meaningful, measurable benefits, including lower prices and more choices for families across the country and more opportunities for stable, well-paying union jobs.”
Unions remain opposed to the merger, stating they are concerned about potential job losses, food deserts, increased food prices, and a lack of competition, among others issues.
