Kroger-Albertsons deal to face U.S. Senate antitrust hearings

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The planned $25 billion Kroger Co. acquisition of Albertsons Cos. will face U.S. Senate hearings over antitrust concerns, according to published reports.

The Senate will hold hearings next month on the acquisition, Bloomberg News reported.

Cincinnati-based Kroger (NYSE: KR) and Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons (NYSE: ACI) announced the deal Oct. 14 that would combine the nation’s two largest operators of traditional supermarkets. Kroger is the largest, as well as the second-largest by grocery market share behind only Walmart. Albertsons ranks fourth in grocery market share, with Issaquah-based warehouse membership store chain Costco placing third.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Utah Sen. Mike Lee said Tuesday they have “serious concerns about the proposed transaction” and would hold a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine the acquisition, Bloomberg reported. Klobuchar and Lee are the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Judiciary antitrust panel.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2022/10/20/kroger-albertsons-deal-senate-antitrust.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Good, though if it doesn't come until the new Congress will we see this come to pass?

This is a horrible deal for CO and many western states where Safeway and King Soopers (Krogers) are basically IT for traditional grocery stores. If they merge, there will be consolidation with countless stores closed and employees laid off, not to mention monopoly prices.

[former9thward]

4. They won't be a monopoly.

Walmart is the biggest food retailer in the U.S. followed by Amazon and Costco. Kroger's and Alberson's are 4 and 5.

[hlthe2b]

6. I SAID they will be a monopoly among self-standing traditional grocery stores in CO & much of

the West. This is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. READ what I actually SAID.

That you compare to membership ONLY warehouses shows how much of a stretch you seek to defend. These are not comparable in that they are NOT open to the non-member general public, particularly the poor. And Walmart is NOT a traditional grocery store. Nor is Amazon/Whole Foods. Nor is Target. Nor are convenience store chains that you might seek to add to support a point that I never made but you seek to argue. And you don't live out here and don't know what you are talking about in this regard.

[former9thward]

8. The traditional grocery store is dying if not dead.

And the U.S. Senate or no one else is going to revive it. Walmart is successful because people can buy things other than groceries in one place. You can shout and scream all you want but your business model is over.

[BlueIdaho]

2. Merger Mania is going to kill this country.

So much for a competitive marketplace. In my little town we have a Safeway, an Albertsons, and a Fred Meyer. If this passes every store will fill their shelves with Kroger in-house brands and any idea of price competition will go out the window.

[Nictuku]

3. What could possibly go wrong with 1 co. controlling the majority of food prices across the nation?

[former9thward]

5. They won't.

There are 3 bigger companies -- Walmart, Costco and Amazon -- when it comes to retail food distribution.

[dembotoz]

7. i think kroger needs to do something

more worried about amazon than the merger