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Kroger/Albertsons Merger Hits Temp Halt

Judge cancels upcoming hearing, sets trial for late September

Published

10 months ago

July 26, 2024

VMSD Staff

Kroger/Albertsons Merger Hits Temp Halt — Kroger's corporate offices are in downtown Cincinnati. Photo: jetcityimage/iStock by Getty Images

Kroger's corporate offices are in downtown Cincinnati. Photo: jetcityimage/iStock by Getty Images

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.

VMSD Staff

Drawing on more than 125 years of history serving the retail design market, VMSD magazine provides retail professionals with the most up-to-date, innovative retail design ideas and industry news through its industry-leading magazine, website, social media channels and bulletins.

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