A federal judge has halted the merger of Kroger and Albertsons, following a lawsuit led by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, the FTC, and a coalition of states, citing potential risks of reduced competition and higher food prices nationwide. Kroger operates in Montgomery County as Harris Teeter, while Albertsons operates as Safeway. Kroger would have acquired Albertsons in the merger.
According to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, “Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced that a federal judge has halted the merger of Kroger and Albertsons, finding that a legal challenge to the merger is likely to succeed on the merits. Kroger and Albertsons are the largest supermarket chains in the country, and the proposed merger presented a significant risk of reduced competition and higher food prices nationwide.
In February 2024, Attorney General Brown, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and a bipartisan coalition of states announced the filing of a lawsuit challenging the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons.
“As the cost of basic necessities rise, Marylanders are spending more and more of their paychecks on groceries. Had this merger gone forward, these supermarkets would no longer have had a reason to offer lower prices than their main competitor, making it harder for Maryland families to put food on their tables,” said Attorney General Brown. “Our Office will do whatever it takes to make sure Marylanders have access to high-quality, affordable, and healthy groceries.”