California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today on the first day of trial in the state’s lawsuit challenging Kroger's $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons. The merger, involving two of the largest national supermarket chains, poses significant risks to competition and could lead to higher food prices nationwide. In Southern California, the consolidation is expected to reduce consumer choices and increase prices further.
The merger is also anticipated to weaken unions' ability to negotiate working conditions for thousands of employees in California. In February 2024, Attorney General Bonta joined the Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan coalition of states in filing a lawsuit against the proposed merger, alleging it violates the federal Clayton Act.
“Across California, families are struggling to make ends meet and wincing at the price of everything from groceries to gas. As the People’s Attorney, it is my honor to stand up to big corporations who only care about their bottom line and directly contribute to this unaffordability. That is exactly what we are doing with this lawsuit,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This merger will leave Californians with fewer choices over where to shop – and for workers in this industry, where to work. We are in court today to prevent this unlawful attempt by Kroger and Albertsons to merge their operations and reduce competition in the marketplace.”