By Michael Hiltzik
Source: Los Angeles Times
A couple of legal events involving the giant supermarket chain Albertsons — the owner of Vons and Pavilions, among other familiar brands — and the giant chain Kroger, owner of Ralphs and other big supermarket names, are coming together just as the two firms are trying to finalize their $24.6-billion merger.
One is a pending decision expected any day from a federal judge in Oregon, who was asked by the Federal Trade Commission to put the merger on hold until the agency can finish presenting its case against the deal to an administrative law judge. Judge Adrienne Nelson completed a hearing on the FTC’s motion Sept. 17, but hasn’t said when she would rule.
The second legal event was a $3.9-million settlement announced Oct. 3 between Albertsons and the attorneys general of Los Angeles and six other California counties as well as the FTC. At issue in that case were accusations that the chain ripped off customers at hundreds of its Vons, Safeway and Albertsons stores in California.