Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

1998

Year Resolved

1998

Settlement Amount

$102,265 attorneys' fees

Court

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Docket Number

98-1101 SVW

Lead State

CA

Participating States

CA

Defendant(s)

Quality Food Centers, Inc.; Hughes Markets, Inc.; Fred Meyer, Inc.; Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc.; Ralphs Grocery Company

Case Description

Ralphs Grocery Company, owning Ralphs and Food 4 Less supermarkets throughout southern California sought to acquire a regional chain of supermarkets. It was jointly investigated with the FTC. The proposed acquisition raised significant antitrust concerns in areas of overlap. The parties agreed to divest stores to resolve the states’ and the FTC’s concerns about this merger.