[Partisan Hack]

This merger is a done deal. No negative effect on consumers. Excess stores will be spun off under their own ipo. The free market works again.

[Dr. Sivana]

This merger is a done deal. No negative effect on consumers.

We'll see. No one is well-positioned to pick up the gap, and Phoenix is already suffering from the highest food inflation in the country. In Rockford, Schnuck's raised prices almost immediately when they persuaded Kroger to leave the area (Schnucks had Logli, Kroger had Highlander, both top stores in the area). Thankfully, Woodman's picked up the slack with an assist from Meijer, who expanded their turf.

You may be right, but I expect short term exploitation, as happened in Connecticut when Shaw's slid out of the picture, and Stop and Shop raised market share and prices for a while. (Admittedly, Big Y moved in and created new competition, so your point is taken.)