MARYLAND – A group of elected officials in Maryland and D.C. are trying to stop what would be the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history. Kroger, which operates Harris Teeter stores, and Albertsons, which operates Safeway stores, are proposing a $24.6 billion deal.
The deal would see 10 Harris Teeter stores in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia be sold to the company behind the Piggly Wiggly franchise.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is against it, saying the merger would reduce competition and drive up consumer prices.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and nine state attorneys general agree and have joined a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission.
On Monday, Kroger released a statement saying the FTC’s attempts to stop the merger is what will cause higher prices and fewer grocery stores. The company says Amazon, Walmart, and Costco will be allowed to continue increasing their growing dominance of the grocery industry if this merger is stopped.
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I guess they haven’t already merged. Safeway operates like under 7 different names.