"Shoppers will have fewer choices and less competition, and, without a competitive marketplace, they will pay higher prices at the grocery store," Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson said.
The $25-billion deal is likely to draw intense scrutiny from federal regulators and critics as it would form a new supermarket colossus at a time of soaring food costs.
Keeping U.S. markets filled with a dazzling array of choices relies on an army of farmers, suppliers, truckers and retail workers. What's gained and lost as all that food makes its way to the shelves?
