Kroger and Albertsons prepare to make a final federal court argument for their merger

Tell Us: Are there pothole problems in your neighborhood?DeSantis says Florida AG, law enforcement will launch criminal probe of apparent Trump assassination attemptGet ready to travel this fall with these Insider DealsFILE - Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen leaves federal court after testifying during a federal court hearing on Sept. 4, 2024, in Portland, Ore.

In testimony during the hearing, the CEOs of Albertsons and Kroger said the merged company would lower prices in a bid to retain customers. They also argued that the merger would boost growth, bolstering stores and union jobs. FTC attorneys have noted that the two supermarket chains currently compete in 22 states, closely matching each other on price, quality, private label products and services like store pickup. Shoppers benefit from that competition and would lose those benefits if the merger is allowed to proceed, they said.

The FTC and labor union leaders also argued that workers’ wages and benefits would decline if Kroger and Albertsons no longer compete with each other. They also expressed concern that potential store closures could create so-called food and pharmacy “deserts” for consumers.The FTC says C&S is ill-prepared to take on those stores.

The attorneys general of Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming all joined the FTC’s lawsuit on the commission’s side. Washington andCopyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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