Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a preliminary injunction granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in his lawsuit against the proposed merger between supermarket giants Albertsons and Kroger. The ruling pauses the merger, which includes Chicago's major grocery chains Jewel-Osco and Mariano’s, until an administrative trial is conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
"Today's ruling is a victory for consumers in Illinois and across the country," Raoul stated. "Reduced competition would lead to higher grocery prices for families at a time when too many can least afford it. I will continue to advocate for consumers to have increased choices that allow them to make decisions that best meet their needs."
Raoul, alongside the FTC and eight other attorneys general from both political parties, filed this lawsuit in February. They argued that the merger could significantly reduce competition, leading to increased food prices nationwide.
The coalition claims that reduced competition allows businesses to raise prices without improving product quality. They also highlighted potential negative impacts such as diminished labor market competition, which could result in lower wages or hinder wage growth, deteriorated benefits or working conditions, or other workplace quality issues.
In November 2022, Raoul joined forces with attorneys general from California and the District of Columbia to challenge a nearly $4 billion payout intended for Albertsons’ shareholders—a sum they noted was 57 times greater than Albertsons' typical dividends.
Assistant Attorneys General Paul J. Harper, Alice Riechers, and Brian M. Yost are managing this case within Raoul’s Antitrust Bureau.