United States District Judge Adrienne Nelson on Tuesday blocked Kroger Co. from acquiring Albertsons Companies Inc. in a $24.6 billion deal, arguing that the merger would limit competition in the grocery industry and affect consumers.
Nelson rejected the companies' argument that they need to merge to be more competitive against retail giants such as Walmart, Amazon and Costco.
In February, the US Federal Trade Commission sued to block the deal, ensuring that it would "eliminate fierce competition between Kroger and Albertsons, leading to higher prices for groceries and other essential household items for millions of Americans" and reduce negotiating leverage for unionized workers.