Arizona AG Launches Parallel Probe Into Kroger-Albertsons Merger

Kris Mayes, Arizona’s AG announced her office will launch an antitrust probe into the Kroger-Albertsons tie-up. She says the merger could impact consumers, workers, farmers and ranchers in the state that supply the two companies’ stores.

In a statement she said “Hardworking Arizonans struggle daily to put fresh, healthy food on the table for their families and have already suffered through devastating price increases over the past year.” 

This probe joins other states around the country, including Colorado, California, and Washington, that have pledged to continue to investigate the proposed $24.6 billion merger.

Read more: Kroger Albertsons Merger Will Hurt Farmers

In addition to the state investigations, the Federal Trade Commission is in the midst of what is expected to be an in-depth antitrust review, and a group of consumers around the country have filed an antitrust lawsuit in California seeking to block the merger and reverse a special dividend payment of nearly $4 billion to Albertsons shareholders. 
 The deal, which was announced last October and is scheduled to close in early 2024, would be the largest in the history of the supermarket industry.