Dec 10, 2024 - Business

Kroger-Albertsons merger blocked by Washington state judge

Richard Collings

Illustration of a statue of Justice holding a bag of groceries — Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson ruled today that the merger of Kroger and Albertsons violated Washington state consumer protection law and blocked it from moving forward there.

Why it matters: His decision, delayed from mid-November, quickly follows a federal court blocking the proposed combination.

Catch up quick: Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, now governor-elect of the state, filed a lawsuit in January to block the deal and overcame an attempt to have it dismissed.

What's next: We're still waiting on a decision on the lawsuit brought by Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser.

The bottom line: This ruling right on the heels of the FTC's win puts this deal on ice.

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Kroger-Albertsons merger blocked by Washington state judge

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