Sens. Lee, Klobuchar Raise Concerns Over Albertsons-Kroger Merger At Hearing

Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the top lawmakers in the upper chamber’s antitrust committee, on Tuesday raised concerns over Albertsons’ merger with Kroger, questioning whether the companies can fulfill commitments to lower prices and increase employee wages, reports The Hill.

“The companies assure us that this is the merger that will make everything better,” Lee, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights, said during a hearing on the planned $25 billion merger.

Read more: Kroger, Albertsons CEOs Face US Congressional Panel On Merger

“They have announced commitments to spend $500 million to lower prices, $1.3 billion to update their stores and a billion dollars to increase employee wages. Of course, they haven’t explained how we can be sure that these commitments will actually be fulfilled.”

Klobuchar, chair of the committee, said she worried the deal would mean a loss of competition in groceries and, potentially, higher costs at a time when inflation is already high.

“That’s why you’ve heard concern across the country about this transaction,” she said.

The deal will be reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission to ensure it is legal under antitrust law.

Stores under the Albertsons umbrella include Balducci’s, Haggen, Kings, Safeway, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons, among others. Kroger owns Baker’s, Dillons, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Pick’n Save and Ralphs.