The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is launching an antitrust investigation into the proposed merger between grocery store parent companies Kroger and Albertsons.
In a written statement, Attorney General Kris Mayes said the proposed merger raises questions about the potential of store closures in addition to skyrocketing grocery prices.
Furthermore, she says it could mean farmers could face unfair competition with corporate producers.
According to the office, the two companies employ more than 35,000 workers and operate more than 250 stores in Arizona.
It also says they account for almost half of all Arizona’s grocery market sales.
Mayes says she will hold a series of listening sessions to hear from workers that could be impacted. The merger was announced in October last year, and could amount to more than $24.5 billion dollars.
