The supermarket industry has been subject to substantial consolidation over the past few decades, with many regional chains being bought up by one of a handful of large conglomerates.
In October 2022, Kroger– which owns chains around the country including Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Mariano’s, and Ralph’s– announced plans to buy Albertson’s–whose chains include Safeway, Vons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, and Shaw’s. The announcement was immediately met with concern from antitrust officials and consumer advocates.
Not totally unexpectedly, today, the FTC announced a lawsuit filed in the District of Oregon to prevent the merger–joined by a bipartisan group of state attorneys general. The suit notes the harm to both consumers and workers.
