Albertsons said Kroger has failed to make best efforts to secure regulatory approval of the deal, a claim the latter called “baseless.”

Retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and grocers like Tesco have created in-store and online media platforms that generate advertising revenue from big food companies and consumer product makers. "While this deal was blocked on the grounds of reduced competition,

A federal judge blocked the deal and sided with the Federal Trade Commission, which raised antitrust concerns over the merger.