Antitrust experts say a few core issues prompted the judges to say no the merger, ultimately dooming the deal.

The Capital Chronicle is running an end-of-year fundraising campaign, with a $10,000 goal, to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and there’s a long legislative session in 2025.

The Washington ruling marks the second major blow to Kroger and Albertsons’ plan to combine, coming shortly after Judge Adrienne Nelson of the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, issued her ruling granting a preliminary injunction in favor of the Federal Trade Commission.