Colorado Kroger workers are striking this week, and 130,000 union grocery workers are bargaining contracts this year.

Both judges agreed. “The current competition between Kroger and Albertsons’ stores is fierce in the state of Washington,” Ferguson said in court before his ruling was released.

In Washington, Kroger and Albertsons operate a total of 337 stores which represents 21.5% of the state’s total grocery stores. Kroger and Albertsons said Tuesday they are disappointed in the ...

Later Tuesday, Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in Washington after concluding that it would lessen competition in the state. Kroger and ...

The FTC and the state of Washington argued that C&S is ill-prepared to take on the stores and may want the option to sell or close them. Both judges agreed. “The current competition between Kroger and ...