Editing Albertsons (section)

==== Acquisition by Kroger ====

On October 14, 2022, [[Kroger]] announced its intent to merge with Albertsons, with Kroger acquiring all Albertsons shares and divesting some stores to secure regulatory approval. The $24.6 billion transaction was expected to close in early 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Repko |first=Melissa |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Kroger agrees to buy rival grocery company Albertsons for $24.6 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/14/kroger-agrees-to-buy-albertsons-for-24point6-billion.html |publisher=[[CNBC]] |accessdate=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018230048/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/14/kroger-agrees-to-buy-albertsons-for-24point6-billion.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kroger and Albertsons Companies Announce Definitive Merger Agreement |url=https://ir.kroger.com/CorporateProfile/press-releases/press-release/2022/Kroger-and-Albertsons-Companies-Announce-Definitive-Merger-Agreement/default.aspx |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Kroger Corporate |language=en-US |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014115441/https://ir.kroger.com/CorporateProfile/press-releases/press-release/2022/Kroger-and-Albertsons-Companies-Announce-Definitive-Merger-Agreement/default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The announcement was met with criticism due to the potential for monopolies to form in some U.S. cities that have few other grocery chains, as well as [[food desert]]s that would form from store closures.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=October 19, 2022 |title=In Seattle, Kroger-Albertsons merger raises fears of closures, 'grocery deserts' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/in-seattle-kroger-albertsons-merger-raises-fears-of-closures-grocery-deserts/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |accessdate=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019140412/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/in-seattle-kroger-albertsons-merger-raises-fears-of-closures-grocery-deserts/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Raymond |first=Art |date=October 17, 2022 |title=If grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons merge, will consumers win or lose? |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/17/23409177/kroger-albertsons-merger-will-consumers-pay-more |work=[[Deseret News]] |accessdate=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018074505/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/17/23409177/kroger-albertsons-merger-will-consumers-pay-more |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 1, 2022, [[Attorney General of Washington|Washington Attorney General]] [[Bob Ferguson (politician)|Bob Ferguson]] filed a lawsuit in [[King County Superior Court]] against Albertsons and Kroger seeking to halt the payment of a $4&nbsp;billion dividend to Albertsons shareholders. The lawsuit aims to prevent Albertsons from winding down operations and preparing store closures during regulator review of the merger.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=November 1, 2022 |title=WA sues to block $4 billion Albertsons dividend ahead of Kroger merger |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wa-sues-to-block-4-billion-albertsons-dividend-ahead-of-kroger-merger/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 2, 2022 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102014146/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wa-sues-to-block-4-billion-albertsons-dividend-ahead-of-kroger-merger/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other state attorneys general have also investigated the merger according to [[Reuters]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 26, 2022 |title=U.S. state attorneys general probing Kroger deal for Albertsons |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-state-attorneys-general-probing-kroger-deal-albertsons-2022-10-26/ |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=November 2, 2022 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102074815/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-state-attorneys-general-probing-kroger-deal-albertsons-2022-10-26/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2024, the FTC sued to block the acquisition stating that the deal would negatively impact consumer prices and workers' wages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Creswell |first=Julie |date=February 26, 2024 |title=F.T.C. Sues to Block Kroger-Albertsons Grocery Store Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/business/ftc-kroger-albertsons-merger.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

In February 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) and attorney generals in eight states filed an anti-trust lawsuit to stop the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sisco |first=Josh |date=2024-02-26 |title=FTC, states challenge Kroger's $25 billion grocery merger with Albertsons |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/26/ftc-krogers-albertsons-grocery-merger-00143287 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-25 |title=FTC Challenges Kroger's Acquisition of Albertsons |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/ftc-challenges-krogers-acquisition-albertsons |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}}</ref> The case went to trial in August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sisco |first1=Josh |last2=Brown |first2=Marcia |date=2024-08-26 |title=Feds take grocery merger to court amid 2024 fight over high food prices |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/26/feds-grocery-merger-fight-00176231 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref> 

In October 2024, Albertsons settled a lawsuit filed by prosecutors in five California counties. The allegations include [[Price gouging|price overcharging]] and false weight advertising.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miskell |first=Dani |date=2024-10-04 |title=Albertsons, Vons settles nearly $4M lawsuit for price overcharges and false weight advertising |url=https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/albertsons-vons-settles-nearly-4m-lawsuit-for-price-overcharges-and-false-weight-advertising |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=DA'S OFFICE HOLDS ALBERTSONS AND VONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR OVERCHARGING CUSTOMERS |url=https://rivcoda.org/albertsons_vons_overcharging |website=rivcoda.org |publisher=Office of the District Attorney: County of Riverside}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hasrter |first=Clara |date=2024-10-04 |title=Albertsons to pay $3.9 million over allegations it overcharged, lied about weight of groceries |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-03/albertsons-to-pay-3-9-million-over-allegations-it-overcharged-lied-about-weight-of-groceries |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2024, "a federal court issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday against the proposed merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, siding with the Biden administration. … The $25 billion deal would have merged the country's second and fourth-largest grocers by market share, with Kroger trailing only Walmart and Albertsons sitting behind Costco."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.axios.com/2024/12/10/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-preliminary-injunction | title=U.S. District judge places preliminary injunction on Kroger-Albertsons merger }}</ref>

On December 11, 2024, Albertsons Companies, Inc. announced the termination of its merger agreement with Kroger. This decision followed injunctions issued 
by the U.S. District Court in Oregon and the King County Superior Court for the State of Washington, which blocked the proposed $25 billion merger. In response to the failed merger, Albertsons filed a lawsuit against Kroger in the Delaware Court of Chancery, alleging willful breach of contract and seeking billions of dollars in damages. The termination entitled Albertsons to an immediate $600 million termination fee and removed contractual constraints on pursuing other strategic opportunities. Following these events, Albertsons announced plans to accelerate its "Customers for Life" strategy, increase its quarterly cash dividend by 25%, and authorize a $2 billion share repurchase program.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2024 |title=Albertsons Files Lawsuit Against Kroger for Breach of Merger Agreemen |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211517822/en/Albertsons-Files-Lawsuit-Against-Kroger-for-Breach-of-Merger-Agreement }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2024 |title=Albertsons Terminates Merger Agreement |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211817240/en/Albertsons-Terminates-Merger-Agreement }}</ref>