Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday sued to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation’s largest grocery chains.

In the suit filed in King County Superior Court, Ferguson argued that the $25-billion deal would harm consumers and raise prices, The Seattle Times reported. Kroger and Albertsons have more than 300 locations in the state and account for more than half of its grocery sales, according to the suit.

“This merger is bad for Washington shoppers and workers,” Ferguson said in a news release Monday. “Shoppers will have fewer choices and less competition, and, without a competitive marketplace, they will pay higher prices at the grocery store.”

  • NightAuthor@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    8 months ago

    In Portland Oregon, I’ve got these two choices, then a local chain that’s much smaller and much more expensive… and a coop that’s also quite expensive.

    So for semi-reasonably priced food, it’s either Kroger or Albertsons.

    • thereisalamp@reddthat.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      8 months ago

      Oh poppy cock. Oregon has some pretty diverse grocery options most of them cheaper than Kroger and Albertsons.

      For example, corvallis, has a winco, Walmart market, grocery outlet, and traders Joe’s, all of which I can easily spend less at than Safeway or Fred Meyer, which is the big Kroger brand in Oregon.

      Then there’s also, university market and natural grocers, 15 minutes down 22 there’s an iga, locally owned chains designed to be close to certain housing, smaller, a little more expensive.

      Then there’s the Asian (like HK) and Indian (like Desi) markets. There used to be a Mexican grocery they’re but it shut down. I’m certain you’ll have one in Portland though. These places have amazing specialty ingredients as well as some great deals on standard stuff.

      Finally there’s a market of choice which is traditionally expensive, but occasionally has some seriously good deals.