PORTLAND, Ore. — Kroger and Albertsons defended their plan to merge – and tried to overcome the U.S. government’s objections – in a federal court hearing that began Monday in Oregon.The two companies proposed what would be the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history in October 2022. They say joining together would help them rein in costs and better compete with big rivals like Walmart and Costco.
“Enough is enough,” Carol McMillian, a bakery manager at a Kroger-owned grocery store in Colorado, said. “We can no longer stand by and allow corporate greed that puts profit before people. Our workers, our communities and our customers deserve better.”Kroger said the merger would help secure union jobs. The company said it has added 100,000 union jobs since 2012.