BALTIMORE, MD—A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction halting the proposed merger of supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced this week. The decision comes as a legal challenge to the merger, spearheaded by Attorney General Brown and a coalition of states, gains momentum.

The lawsuit, filed in February 2024, argues that the merger of Kroger and Albertsons, the nation’s largest supermarket chains, would significantly reduce competition and potentially lead to higher food prices nationwide. The federal judge presiding over the case found that the lawsuit has a strong likelihood of success, supporting the decision to halt the merger while the legal battle continues.

“As the cost of basic necessities rise, Marylanders are spending more and more of their paychecks on groceries,” said Attorney General Brown. “Had this merger gone forward, these supermarkets would no longer have had a reason to offer lower prices than their main competitor, making it harder for Maryland families to put food on their tables.”

Attorney General Brown emphasized the commitment of his office to ensuring Marylanders have access to affordable and high-quality groceries. He joined forces with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming in filing the lawsuit.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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