Kroger/Albertsons Merger Hits Temp Halt

A Denver District Court Judge has temporarily halted the proposed $24.6 billion merger between The Kroger Co. (Cincinnati) and Albertsons Cos. (Boise, Idaho), report a variety of news services, including Progressive Grocer. During a hearing on July 25, Judge Andrew Luxen granted a preliminary injunction delaying the merger while also canceling a planned Aug. 12 hearing on the matter.

Both grocers agreed to the delay.

Rather than a hearing, the judge ordered a two-week trial set to start on Sept. 30. A Kroger spokesperson told Progressive Grocer that the decision is welcome news since it eliminates the need for a preliminary injunction hearing.

“We look forward to defending in court how the combination of Kroger and Albertsons will provide meaningful, measurable benefits, including lower prices and more choices for families across the country and more opportunities for stable, well-paying union jobs,” said the spokesperson.

The merger was first proposed in October 2022 and has since faced a variety of legal challenges, most of them based on the view that the combination will lead to fewer jobs and higher prices. The grocers involved say the opposite is the case.