State Attorneys General Challenge FTC’s Opposition to Kroger-Albertsons Merger, Citing Market Definition Flaws

Attorneys general from Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, and Ohio have contested the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) efforts to block Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, arguing that the FTC’s objections rest on an unduly narrow and unrealistic definition of the grocery market. In an amicus brief submitted to Oregon federal court on Friday, the states’ attorneys general assert the merger is “procompetitive” and could enhance Kroger’s competitive edge in a broad market of retail grocery options that includes titans like Walmart and Amazon. They critiqued the FTC’s position for presupposing “that consumers are walled off from any other sources for groceries and have no alternative but to buy all their needs from either Kroger or Albertsons alone,” highlighting a disconnect between the FTC’s current stance and its historical precedents. For more detailed coverage, visit the original article here.