© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An Albertsons grocery store is seen, as Kroger agrees to buy rival Albertsons in a deal to combine the two supermarket chains, in Glendora, California, U.S., October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci/File Photo
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson on Monday set Aug. 26 as the start of a hearing on the Federal Trade Commission’s bid for a preliminary injunction to block supermarket chain Kroger (NYSE:)’s $24.6 billion deal to buy smaller rival Albertsons (NYSE:).
The FTC sued last month to block the deal that would create a grocery empire with more than 4,000 stores and has drawn tough scrutiny from lawmakers and consumer groups worried about higher grocery prices, job losses and store closures.