Colorado judge temporarily blocks Kroger-Albertsons grocery ‘megamerger’

BY: CHAS WOODRUFF – Ohio Capital Journal

A Colorado judge has issued an order temporarily blocking the proposed $24.6 billion merger of the country’s two largest supermarket chains ahead of an antitrust trial in state court scheduled to begin in September.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser in February sued grocery giant Kroger, which operates King Soopers and City Market stores in Colorado, and Albertsons, which operates the Safeway brand. Weiser’s lawsuit claims the deal violates state antitrust laws and will have “harmful effects on consumers, workers and suppliers.” The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson also challenged the merger in court.

Denver District Court Judge Andrew Luxen on Thursday granted Weiser’s request for a temporary injunction barring the merger, preventing the two companies from completing the transaction until a ruling in the case is issued.