FTC sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger: Here's what to know

Kathy O’Neill, former DOJ antitrust division official, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the FTC's lawsuit to block the merger between Kroger and Albertsons, whether the deal could lead to to higher food prices and lower wages, and more.

[@spiritualexercise265]

News reports fail to report that Albertsons/Kroger is selling off 413 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers including many Albertson stores in the West and C&S is keeping all union agreements.

[@user-yy6ey5tm6i]

How do we know what your saying is a fact? If is true great and it means that they failed and they have to sell. what very few know is that like any other businesses out there grocery store are corrupt too.

[@user-yy6ey5tm6i]

Is bad for the consumer and the job seekers. It will be less options for whoever is looking for work

[@MPDLR]

I go Republican 75% of the time. I gotta say I'm starting to support this FTC. It's total bullcrap that these grocers would merge to pass savings onto consumers. Maybe it's about time there's an FTC that will let companies compete and win or lose. I thought us "free market" people were into "competition". There's a reason why level of service goes down (talk to the chat bot)...and prices go up.

[@you2angel1]

I'm glad information is coming out about this I was beginning to wonder °~•.☆.•~°

[@deg8061]

Here’s what happened when two large supermarket chains merged: “The cost of living with Coles and Woolworths | Four Corners” and “Coles CEO’s Crazy Excuse for Price Gouging!”

[@jeffb5798]

"Real quick, we only have 30 seconds left"... then proceeds to talk for 20 seconds and then asks another question.

[@carolynelrod9994]

ok i understand the argument against this merger, but how is this a problem when we have Walmart and Amazon doing the same thing?

[@johnstanton1894]

Walmart, 25% share , costco 7.1%, kroger, 5.6%. albertsons, 5%, would think the FTC would be looking more at Walmart.

[@jeffb5798]

Comparing Kroger and Albertsons to Wallmart, Costco, or Amazon is not the same thing, and is not comparing "apples to apples". Kroger and Albertsons/Safeway are neighborhood stores, with multiple location is cities. Wallmart and Costco stores are much more sparse, and are typically in suburbs, and not very accessible (unless you live in that suburb near their store)

[@user-nj5zi1rs3v]

For a nation where monopolies aren't supposed to be permitted, if we don't cross the line, we sure get close to the line. Also, we don't need any more companies that are too big to fail where the taxpayers have to bail them out while the people at the top walk away with millions. I know we get sold the narrative for support that will bring the big dollars for the people at the top; let's not.

[@960john]

Law does allow monopolies. What's prohibited is the abuse of monopolistic power. Also, this would be a oligopoly at best, not a monopoly. Microsoft and Google are monopolies.

[@GeorgeSmiley2023]

​@@960johnit's a different story when it comes to basic needs, one market model or the other, there must be limits.

[@marcymccann901]

@@960john Kroger is forcing the population to buy its food, whether they like it or not... too greed of a company!

[@NASCARorbascarpeople]

@@GeorgeSmiley2023monopolizes can’t be created in markets where there’s more than one competitor. There are way more bigger and better competitors in this industry than Kroger and Albertsons. The list of stores with a grocery aspect to them is ENDLESS. Literally. It doesn’t stop. Target, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, BJ’s, Costco, Giant, Lidl, ShopRite, Acme, Aldi, Wegmans, Winn-Dixie, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Amazon fresh. I could go further. There’s plenty of competition, and I guarantee you that there’s at-least one billion dollar grocery store on that list that you didn’t even know existed depending on location. The FTC will lose this suit. Their case is weak.

[@scarygarrysg1903]

Next, Rodney will be discussing how the targeting system works at Kroger and how it was applied to Evan. Also, he can explain how he retroactively decided COVID wasn't all that bad, and wanted "his" money back.

[@Dave-zl2ky]

Lower prices for how many weeks. This is just a Kroger scam.

[@jlp7184]

Right. They will introduce low prices to get you in. Then later will come up with "reasons " to raise prices..again..but higher

[@you2angel1]

Monopoly

[@Mannykeri]

Let Albertsons and Kroger merge so we finally have some competition against Walmart and Costco!! Even after the merger Walmart will STILL be bigger than Kroger/Albertsons!! YES TO THE MERGER!! Why is the government protecting Walmart? Why doesn't the government want competition for Walmart!?