Protesters speak outside Kroger and Albertsons merger in federal court

Two of the largest grocery store chains, Kroger and Albertson's are looking to merge. They were in court Monday defending the plan against the Federal Trade Commission or FTC that's looking to block it. The FTC filed a lawsuit against the merger in Oregon back in February this day has been a long time coming. The $24 billion deal largest proposed merger in US history has been in the works for years. The chains first made the announcement back in October of 2022 saying a merger would lower prices and help them compete with larger stores like Wal Mart. Many employees aren't sold and protested outside the courthouse Monday morning is enough. We can no longer stand by and allow corporate greed that puts profit before people. The FTC is arguing the merger would eliminate competition, increase prices and lower employee wages already. Americans pay too high of grocery prices and if competition is removed from this merger, then the prices could go even higher. That's going to be real trouble because a lot of us are on fixed incomes and we just can't afford higher prices right now. If the deal goes through Kroger and Albertsons have already said they'll sell dozens of Safeway, Albertsons and QFC stores in Oregon and Washington. It's very confusing. The only thing I'm really concerned about is closing stores that are close to us, especially those that are disabled and having a hard time walking. It's now up to a federal judge to decide whether or not to grant the ftc's request for a delay as they continue to fight the merger. What we're focused on right now is, is, is winning this case and getting the P I so that we can move forward with our in house court to challenge the merger in full. All right. So in a statement, Kroger says that if the merger will help secure union jobs, if it goes through and if a judge grants the FT CS request to delay the grocery stores, they could appeal that could take a year or more and we won't know if that'll happen until about three weeks from now. Again, this is just the day one of the hearing back to you. We appreciate your reporting on this Blair in downtown Portland in front of that federal courthouse. More to come.

Share your thoughts

Related Transcripts

Kroger, Albertsons execs defend merger plan in Portland trial thumbnail
Kroger, Albertsons execs defend merger plan in Portland trial

Category: News & Politics

Week two of the big grocery merger trial in downtown portland wrapped up a bit early today, an unexpected witness from walmart, an expected witness was not available until monday. so they shut the thing down before noon on this friday. earlier this week, the ceo s of kroger and albertson's testified,... Read more

Real-life Krabby Patties could be coming to a Wendy's near you thumbnail
Real-life Krabby Patties could be coming to a Wendy's near you

Category: News & Politics

You too, could soon taste the crappy patty. the real life version of the famous burger from the nickelodeon show, spongebob squarepants could be coming to wendy's restaurants. some new sources say the fast food change chain is partnering up with film giant paramount to bring the fictional food to the... Read more

Breaking down Portland's Fred Meyer strike and opposition to the Kroger-Albertsons merger thumbnail
Breaking down Portland's Fred Meyer strike and opposition to the Kroger-Albertsons merger

Category: News & Politics

Now, let's pivot and talk about grocery stores. the fred meyer strike along with the federal lawsuit trying to block a huge merger involving fred meyer's owner kroger and albertson's which also own safeway stores. those two things are putting a blinding spotlight on the industry. now, you may have seen... Read more

Legal analyst discusses trial over Kroger-Albertsons merger thumbnail
Legal analyst discusses trial over Kroger-Albertsons merger

Category: News & Politics

Kroger and albertsons are fighting the ft cs attempt to block their merger. a federal judge in portland oregon is hearing from both sides in a trial that started monday and it's scheduled to last for three weeks. the federal trade commission is requesting a preliminary injunction to delay the deal.... Read more

Tailwaggers: Meet Dottie thumbnail
Tailwaggers: Meet Dottie

Category: News & Politics

Meet dottie, a gorgeous four year old 31 pound female american blue heeler mix. she has a striking black and white coat. she's intelligent, loyal and loves forming deep connections with her people and she's waiting for you at the s pc a of texas. dottie thrives in an environment where she can enjoy... Read more

Easing inflation raises hopes for a rate cut thumbnail
Easing inflation raises hopes for a rate cut

Category: News & Politics

Welcome back tonight. we are talking about cooling costs across the nation and how they could impact more than just prices at the register. and luckily we brought in our expert peter shaw joins us now, professor emeritus of business administration at tidewater community college. peter. great to have... Read more

Kroger's CEO says shoppers would see lower prices after the chain's merger with Albertsons thumbnail
Kroger's CEO says shoppers would see lower prices after the chain's merger with Albertsons

Category: News & Politics

Well, the ceo of kroger is promising to cut food prices by a billion dollars. if the federal trade commission approves a merger with one of its competitors. the ftc is trying to block a $24 billion merger between kroger and albertson's claiming it would eliminate competition and lead to higher food... Read more

Kroger CEO testifies at Albertsons merger hearing thumbnail
Kroger CEO testifies at Albertsons merger hearing

Category: News & Politics

The ceo of kroger which owns king supers in colorado says the company will begin cutting prices once its merger with albertsons is approved, the company agreed to merge in 2022. but the merger has been on hold after federal regulators sued to block the merger saying it would cut down on competition... Read more

Vanna White says emotional goodbye to Pat Sajak for final show thumbnail
Vanna White says emotional goodbye to Pat Sajak for final show

Category: News & Politics

For the longest host of a game show with one more to go. it feels like he's always been on our tv screens. >> pat sajak and vanna white. >> reporter: but tonight pat sajak will sign off after more than four decades. >> i love you, pat. >> an emotional good-bye from the other half of the show's... Read more

Angelina Jolie reveals she was nervous to sing for Maria Callas role thumbnail
Angelina Jolie reveals she was nervous to sing for Maria Callas role

Category: News & Politics

Samples from creatures across, land, sea and air. >>> next up, angelina jolie received an impressive eight-minute standing ovation at the venice film festival for her latest project. joely getting emotional at the audiences sweet reception. and she revealed how it felt preparing to perform as opera... Read more

Deflated: Tom Brady voices regrets over roast, its impact on his kids thumbnail
Deflated: Tom Brady voices regrets over roast, its impact on his kids

Category: News & Politics

Gisele bunchin. now he is saying he did not like the way this impacted his children. nfl's greatest roast of all time with tom brady may have been a big success. >> he is a three-time super bowl loser. please welcome tom brady! >> but this morning the super bowl champ says he'll never do it again.... Read more

How a Kroger-Albertsons merger could impact food prices thumbnail
How a Kroger-Albertsons merger could impact food prices

Category: News & Politics

>>> kenny, where are the eggs? >> i have the right of way. >> right, sorry. here. settle out of court. >> oh, weirdo. >> clean up in aisle four! >> we are back at 7:39 with a classic scene from "mr. mom". >> a classic. >> the struggles of life at the super market. >> now there is a new issue... Read more