Following a position statement from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice, the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) continue their opposition to the merger.  Both the NGA and the UFCW refer to the FTC policy as recently defined revision states, “Mergers should not significantly increase concentration in highly concentrated markets and should not otherwise substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.”

Critics of the proposed merger note that the transaction would conflict with the revised FTC guidelines.  The NGA is concerned over a single large supermarket entity achieving dominance over food distribution.  The unions are concerned over job security wages and benefits.  Consumer groups represented by states’ Attorneys General are concerned over the potential for higher prices.