BACKGROUND

In October 2022, the nation’s two largest traditional supermarket chains, The Kroger Company and Albertsons Company, Inc., announced plans to merge their supermarket sectors. Collectively Kroger and Albertsons operate around 5,000 stores, 4,000 retail pharmacies, and 700,000 employees across 48 states. Their significant size is the result of multiple mergers with other grocery stores going back three decades.

 

On February 26, 2024, the FTC filed an administrative proceeding along with the States of Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming and the District of Columbia, halting the acquisition, and listing the potential harms to consumers and grocery store employees. Ideally, businesses compete amongst themselves to win over clients, and to hire employees who have the training and skills to enhance the employers’ services and brands. As a result of this competitive environment, consumers can choose amongst competitors for the best deals, and employees can negotiate and obtain higher compensation and benefits. If allowed, the proposed merger can destroy competition, raising the cost of groceries for millions of Americans and their families, as well as take away employees’ power to negotiate wages, benefits, opportunities, and quality of workplace conditions and protections.

Kroger and Albertson owned supermarkets include:
  • Carrs
  • Fred Meyer
  • Haggen
  • Harris Teeter
  • Jewel-Osco
  • King Soopers
  • Mariano’s
  • Quality Food Center (QFC)
  • Ralphs
  • Safeway
  • Smith’s
  • Vons

CONTACT US

Our firm is investigating whether this potential anti-competitive conduct has affected grocery store workers.

Please contact our firm if you:

  • Are/or have been employed at any Kroger/Albertson affiliated store.
  • Want to learn more about our investigation into how this merger may affect consumers and employees.

Any information you provide to us will be kept strictly confidential as provided by law.

If you wish to inform us of any unfair business practice, antitrust or competition issue, or comment on one of our cases, please use the form below. There is no cost or obligation for our review of your case. We agree to protect your name and all confidential information you submit against disclosure, publication, or unauthorized use to the full extent under the law. Please note that completion of this form does not contractually obligate our firm to represent you. We can only represent you if both you and our firm agree, in writing, that we will serve as your attorney. Please read our disclaimer. Any information you provide to us will be kept strictly confidential as provided by law.


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