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Washington AG Sues to Block Kroger, Albertsons Merger
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has sued to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, two of the country’s largest grocery chains.
In the suit filed in King County Superior Court, Ferguson argued that the $25-billion deal would harm consumers and raise prices. Kroger and Albertsons have more than 300 locations in Washington, and according to the suit, they account for more than half of the state’s grocery sales.
“This merger is bad for Washington shoppers and workers,” Ferguson said in a news release. “Shoppers will have fewer choices and less competition, and, without a competitive marketplace, they will pay higher prices at the grocery store.”
Kroger is the largest supermarket operator with 2,719 locations, and the company also owns Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, King Soopers and other chains. Albertsons has 2,272 stores, and it owns Safeway and Vons. Together, the supermarket chains employ nearly 720,000 people.
