Kroger sues FTC over in-house review of $25B grocery deal that ‘could take years'

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].