Oregon Judge Blocks Kroger's $24.6 Billion Albertsons Merger Over Antitrust Concerns

Dec 10, 2024, 09:13 PM

A federal judge in Oregon, Adrienne Nelson, has blocked Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, ruling that the merger would lessen competition for U.S. grocery shoppers. The decision grants the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) request for a preliminary injunction, marking a significant setback for the deal, which would have been the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history. The judge, appointed by President Biden, sided with FTC Chair Lina Khan, who argued that the merger would erode competition, raise food prices, and hurt workers.