The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday kicked off a trial amid its push to block Kroger's $25 billion merger with Albertsons by alleging the deal would undermine competition in the grocery store industry and hurt consumers. Kroger and Albertsons first announced the proposed merger in September 2023 and the companies have agreed to sell nearly 600 locations to C&S Wholesale Grocers to help the deal pass regulatory muster. Kroger has also committed to lower grocery prices by $1 billion after the deal, w ...

The Federal Trade Commission kicked off a trial on Monday in its bid to block Kroger’s $25 billion merger with Albertsons, telling a federal judge in Portland, Ore., that the deal would eliminate competition between the top grocery store chains and hit consumers’ wallets.The FTC and several states sued to block the deal in February, saying the merger would mean higher prices for consumers and less bargaining power for unionized grocery workers.FTC Chief Trial Counsel Susan Musser urged US District Judge Adr ...

CINCINNATI, Aug. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), is reminding customers about the importance of helping to safeguard the health of our communities by receiving a flu, COVID-19 or RSV vaccine, available at all Kroger Family of Pharmacies and The Little Clinic locations."Vaccines are a critical tool that can help prevent the spread of diseases, maintain public health, and are one of our best defenses against these diseases," said Colleen Lindholz, ...

Collaboration carefully curated with Lisa Vanderpump's signature style CINCINNATI, Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced the launch of Vanderpump Blooms x Bloom Haus™, a floral collection curated by businesswoman, TV personality, author and philanthropist Lisa Vanderpump. Available exclusively at Kroger Family of Stores beginning September 4, the collection brings Vanderpump's trademark elegant aesthetic to life with gorgeous floral arrangements.The Kroger Co. announced the ...

Program has granted more than $5 million in scholarship fundsCINCINNATI, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) Foundation today announced the Kroger Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year, awarding $300,000 to 120 students. All scholars are the children of Kroger associates and receive $2,500 toward any accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational program. Launched in 2008, the Kroger Scholars Program has awarded more than $5 million in scholarship funds."To be selected ...

WendellandCarolyn Last year, I wrote about Kroger (NYSE:KR) and argued that it had an attractive valuation. I also liked its dividend growth record. Today, I'd only really support the latter argument. I hold the stock, and I plan to continue doing so. However, I'm not in a huge hurry to add more shares. Kroger is a great company with a long history. It has stores throughout the United States, and it sells many products under its own label. It put out a bid to buy Albertsons (ACI) for $24.6 billion in Oc ...

CINCINNATI, Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) ("Kroger" or the "Company") announced today that it has priced a public offering in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion of its 4.700% Senior Notes due 2026 at a price of 99.996 percent of par (the "2026 notes"); $1.0 billion of its 4.600% Senior Notes due 2027 at a price of 99.980 percent of par (the "2027 notes"); $1.4 billion of its 4.650% Senior Notes due 2029 at a price of 99.895 percent of par (the "2029 notes"); $1.3 billion ...

Key TakeawaysKroger asked a federal court for an injunction to stop a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proceeding to block the grocery chain's $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons.The FTC moved this year to prevent the sale, arguing it would limit competition and raise food prices.Kroger also announced it would offer bonds to pay for part of the cash considerations in the deal. Kroger (KR) shares declined in intraday trading Tuesday as the biggest U.S. supermarket chain launched a two-part effort to finall ...

Core Viewpoint - Kroger is suing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block its in-house review of the proposed $25 billion merger with Albertsons, claiming the tribunal is unconstitutional and that the matter should be resolved in federal court [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The lawsuit was filed in Cincinnati, coinciding with a scheduled trial where the FTC seeks to temporarily block the merger while its in-house judges review the deal [1]. - Kroger argues that the in-house review process could take years, which would delay the merger [2]. - Kroger's Chairman stated the company is prepared to defend the merger in federal court, asserting that this is the appropriate venue for the case [2]. Group 2: FTC's Position - The FTC has previously indicated that the merger could lead to increased prices for millions of Americans and negatively impact the labor market for unionized grocery store workers [1]. - A spokesperson for the FTC declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit [4].

FTC's in-house tribunal violates Constitutional protections against federal government overreachCompany remains prepared to defend merger with Albertsons in upcoming federal court trial CINCINNATI, Aug. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, against the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) administrative proceeding challenging the company's merger with Albertson's Companies, Inc. The company argues ...