Colorado next up to argue its case against Kroger-Albertsons mega merger

A lawsuit by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office against the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons is set for trial starting Monday in Denver District Court. The lawsuit claims the merger between the parent companies of King Soopers, City Market and Safeway would harm Colorado customers, workers and local suppliers.

Weiser said Colorado farmers who sell their produce to King Soopers and Albertsons worry that they’ll lose out if the companies consolidate. The two currently compete against each other for such popular fare as peaches grown in Palisade.Kroger and Albertsons executives have said the merger will position them better to compete against such non-union grocery giants as Walmart and Costco and discount stores such as Dollar General.

Colorado’s lawsuit said emails between Kroger and Albertsons executives outline agreements by Albertsons not to hire any King Soopers employees or solicit King Soopers pharmacy customers during the strike. The agreements were unlawful, according to the complaint. Olson was the produce manager in a Safeway store in Lakewood when Albertsons acquired Safeway. He said 43 stores were closed in Colorado and because he had less seniority, he got bumped to a job that paid less.

Olson also worries that union membership will decrease if C&S takes over stores and decides not to continue collective bargaining. “That will reduce our membership, endangering our pension and our health care,” he said. And food deserts were created after the 2015 Albertsons-Safeway merger, Weiser said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s definition of a food desert considers the poverty rate and in an urban area applies when at least 500 people and/or at least 33% of the population lives more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.

Canada Canada Latest News, Canada Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

How a Kroger-Albertsons merger could impact food pricesThis is additional taxonomy that helps us with analytics
Source: TODAYshow - 🏆 389. / 55 Read more »

Kroger-Albertsons merger trial: What to know about the proposed plan, possible impact on grocery pricesAlbertsons and Kroger proposed a $24.6 billion merger in 2022, with the Federal Trade Commission suing to prevent the deal claiming that it would stop competition among retailers and increase grocery prices.
Source: FOX10Phoenix - 🏆 83. / 68 Read more »

Kroger, Albertsons defend merger plan in federal court against US regulators’ objectionsIn the three-week hearing that opened Monday, the FTC is seeking a preliminary injunction that would block the merger while its complaint goes before an in-house administrative law judge.
Source: AKNewsNow - 🏆 460. / 53 Read more »

Kroger, Albertsons defend merger plan in federal court against US regulators' objectionsSupermarket chain Albertsons told a federal judge Monday that it might have to lay off workers, close stores and even exit some markets if its planned merger with Kroger isn't allowed to proceed.
Source: ABC7Chicago - 🏆 284. / 63 Read more »

Kroger vows to terminate Albertsons merger if federal judge delays its closingConnect with Dan
Source: abc15 - 🏆 263. / 63 Read more »

Labor takes spotlight in Kroger-Albertsons merger hearing as Oregon Fred Meyer workers begin strikeThe leader of striking Oregon grocery workers argued the proposed merger would undermine unions ability to bargain, while a top Kroger labor relations official said unions would remain formidable even if the merger were approved.
Source: adndotcom - 🏆 293. / 63 Read more »