[2] In February 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit to block the merger stating the deal would raise prices, lower quality, limit choices for consumers, and harm workers.

[6] Albertsons merged with Safeway in 2015 in a $9.2 billion deal which included an FTC requirement to spin off 168 stores to stop the new company having a monopoly in certain markets.

[1] The acquisition aims to enhance Kroger's competitive edge by expanding its market presence and leveraging economies of scale to offer better prices and services to customers.

[14] Several UFCW local determined in July 2024, that Kroger's and Albertson's proposed divestiture of hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers would reduce consumer access to medications and harm pharmacy competition nationwide.

The FTC filed a lawsuit in February 2024 to block the acquisition, arguing that it would reduce competition, lead to higher grocery prices, and negatively impact workers’ wages and benefits.

[18] Attorneys general from Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming joined the FTC's lawsuit to block the merger.

[20] In February 2024, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the merger due to his belief that it would greatly reduce competition and harm Coloradans.

Throughout the three week trial, the state argued that C&S Wholesale did not have sufficient retail experience to effectively operate the stores it would be acquiring and that it would end up selling or simply closing the locations.