FTC Challenge to Walmart Rival Needs Better Attack: Chris Hughes

The US Federal Trade Commission has thrown everything at its attempt to thwart Kroger Co.’s $25 billion takeover of rival supermarket Albertsons Cos. It has taken a scattershot approach when a more targeted attack would serve it better, given the dubiousness of some of its arguments.

The transaction was hatched in 2022 against a backdrop of sharply rising food prices, aiming to create a jumbo grocery player with the buying power to challenge the mighty Walmart Inc. Last week, the FTC went to court to delay its closing and allow time for a full-blown challenge. This is ostensibly about timing, but it means ...