Steve Watkins - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/steve-watkins/ Building "Bridges" Across the Bayou City! Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:00:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://i0.wp.com/houstonnewmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-cropped-Houston.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Steve Watkins - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/steve-watkins/ 32 32 103504436 Who’s next as Kroger CEO? Analysts choose their top candidates, including one with Houston ties. https://houstonnewmedia.org/whos-next-as-kroger-ceo-analysts-choose-their-top-candidates-including-one-with-houston-ties/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whos-next-as-kroger-ceo-analysts-choose-their-top-candidates-including-one-with-houston-ties Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:00:31 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=5fcf5b928fa9c94f96372c56db71b5d6 Kroger Co. could bring in someone from the outside as CEO for the first time in its history if multiple analysts’ suggestions for the identity of the grocery giant’s next leader come to fruition. However, an internal candidate with Houston ties also co...

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]]> 918296 Kroger CEO moves on from Albertsons merger, launches $7.5B share buyback https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-ceo-moves-on-from-albertsons-merger-launches-7-5b-share-buyback/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-ceo-moves-on-from-albertsons-merger-launches-7-5b-share-buyback Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:02:42 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=8008f653aeca224479589d2d297d8a2d Just hours after Albertsons terminated the agreement calling for Kroger Co. to buy the company, Kroger also terminated the deal while launching plans to repurchase of billions of dollars in stock.

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]]> 860784 Kroger-Albertsons merger terminated; $600M lawsuit filed https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-merger-terminated-600m-lawsuit-filed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-merger-terminated-600m-lawsuit-filed Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:46:16 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=9c510cd12f094d1e9bf53e245d9886e5 Kroger’s planned $24.6 billion acquisition of rival Albertsons has been terminated, and Albertsons has sued Kroger, blaming it for the deal collapsing after two court rulings rejected the deal.

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]]> 860322 Kroger-Albertsons merger decision handed down in federal court https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-merger-decision-handed-down-in-federal-court/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-merger-decision-handed-down-in-federal-court Tue, 10 Dec 2024 21:35:56 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=abdb8a3730ba9fd62fdcd9139cfdb03a A federal judge blocked Kroger Co.'s planned $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Inc. in a court decision handed down Dec. 10.

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]]> 859829 Kroger CEO McMullen gives Albertsons acquisition update, explains future plans https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-ceo-mcmullen-gives-albertsons-acquisition-update-explains-future-plans/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-ceo-mcmullen-gives-albertsons-acquisition-update-explains-future-plans Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:58:19 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=90d366de90296caf6b68414c447c2b9a Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen talked publicly about where things stand on the company's planned $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons and what would be next if the deal doesn’t go through.

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]]> 859545 Kroger-Albertsons deal: What to look for and an expert’s view on key issues as grocers head to court https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-deal-what-to-look-for-and-an-experts-view-on-key-issues-as-grocers-head-to-court/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-deal-what-to-look-for-and-an-experts-view-on-key-issues-as-grocers-head-to-court Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:03:06 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=efc35212e189e4550a9088ffa13eefa6 Kroger and Albertsons go to court in a much-awaited hearing that likely will determine whether their $24.6 billion deal can proceed. Here's what to know.

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]]> 811014 FTC probes grocery industry for possible price gouging amid its opposition of Kroger-Albertsons merger https://houstonnewmedia.org/ftc-probes-grocery-industry-for-possible-price-gouging-amid-its-opposition-of-kroger-albertsons-merger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ftc-probes-grocery-industry-for-possible-price-gouging-amid-its-opposition-of-kroger-albertsons-merger Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:53:19 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=69157ca10e5aca58a5dba4066bcedb7c The grocery business is coming under fire from the Federal Trade Commission as it launches an investigation into potential price gouging.

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]]> 806398 Kroger’s $24.6 billion Albertsons acquisition temporarily halted https://houstonnewmedia.org/krogers-24-6-billion-albertsons-acquisition-temporarily-halted/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=krogers-24-6-billion-albertsons-acquisition-temporarily-halted Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:54:49 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=7a73ab6fa9ec694ae89d314ad37de909 An out-of-state judge put a temporary halt to Kroger Co.’s planned $24.6 billion acquisition of rival Albertsons Cos. Inc.

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]]> 799385 Kroger reveals 579 stores it will sell in effort to get Albertsons deal approved, including 2 in Houston https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-reveals-579-stores-it-will-sell-in-effort-to-get-albertsons-deal-approved-including-2-in-houston/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-reveals-579-stores-it-will-sell-in-effort-to-get-albertsons-deal-approved-including-2-in-houston Tue, 09 Jul 2024 21:06:29 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=dc1e07d92897a73992583268a2fcbbaf Kroger has listed the 579 stores it plans to sell to C&S Wholesale in an effort to land approval from antitrust regulators for its $24.6 billion Albertsons deal.

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]]> 792090 FTC rips Kroger, Walmart for pricing actions during Covid-19 pandemic https://houstonnewmedia.org/ftc-rips-kroger-walmart-for-pricing-actions-during-covid-19-pandemic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ftc-rips-kroger-walmart-for-pricing-actions-during-covid-19-pandemic Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:44:36 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=4362b811e0338c80dbad4c7424a1291c The Federal Trade Commission slammed Kroger Co., Walmart and other large grocery companies in a new report for making the negative effects of the Covid pandemic and supply chain issues worse for consumers than they needed to be.

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]]> 743565 FTC sues to block Kroger’s planned $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons https://houstonnewmedia.org/ftc-sues-to-block-krogers-planned-24-6-billion-acquisition-of-albertsons/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ftc-sues-to-block-krogers-planned-24-6-billion-acquisition-of-albertsons Mon, 26 Feb 2024 19:00:41 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=4b0148c8c1db24c7ca6916b2ad5aba64 The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit Feb. 26 to block Kroger Co.’s planned $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Inc.

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]]> 730111 Regulators expected to sue to block Kroger-Albertsons deal, Bloomberg report says https://houstonnewmedia.org/regulators-expected-to-sue-to-block-kroger-albertsons-deal-bloomberg-report-says/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=regulators-expected-to-sue-to-block-kroger-albertsons-deal-bloomberg-report-says Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:26:21 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=2f3901870fc99d99230526705886e565 Regulators are expected to sue to block Kroger's planned acquisition of Albertsons, according to a report.

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]]> 728424 Kroger delays expected timing of Albertsons deal due to antitrust concerns https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-delays-expected-timing-of-albertsons-deal-due-to-antitrust-concerns/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-delays-expected-timing-of-albertsons-deal-due-to-antitrust-concerns Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:04:12 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=dabbc452079a07bc61ae975fecb092ab Kroger has moved back its target date to complete the supermarket giant’s $24.6 billion acquisition of rival Albertsons, the parent company of Texas' Randalls supermarkets.

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]]> 714748 Kitchen United has closed its ghost kitchens inside Kroger stores https://houstonnewmedia.org/kitchen-united-has-closed-its-ghost-kitchens-inside-kroger-stores/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kitchen-united-has-closed-its-ghost-kitchens-inside-kroger-stores Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:53:57 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=f5427b7dab06240df4ffa52d1650f88f Kroger Co.'s ghost kitchens are no more after its partner, Kitchen United, closed its locations.

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]]> 700590 Kroger sets wheels in motion for FTC antitrust approval process with Albertsons deal notification https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-sets-wheels-in-motion-for-ftc-antitrust-approval-process-with-albertsons-deal-notification/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-sets-wheels-in-motion-for-ftc-antitrust-approval-process-with-albertsons-deal-notification Tue, 05 Dec 2023 13:50:32 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=1c6f8a594abc6a4771ac0071af663769 Kroger Co. has thrown the ball into federal regulators’ court by informing the Federal Trade Commission it has satisfied the FTC's concerns regarding Kroger's planned $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons.

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]]> 697555 Kroger, Albertsons CEOs make video pitch for $24.6B acquisition to get approved https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-ceos-make-video-pitch-for-24-6b-acquisition-to-get-approved/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-ceos-make-video-pitch-for-24-6b-acquisition-to-get-approved Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:06:45 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=aebda4f4b38d32ed6f2aeb8d5fd9bae4 The CEOs of Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. have made a video to make their arguments in favor of approval of the companies’ $24.6 billion pending merger.

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]]> 645482 Kroger, Albertsons reportedly might need to sell more stores than initially planned https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-reportedly-might-need-to-sell-more-stores-than-initially-planned/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-reportedly-might-need-to-sell-more-stores-than-initially-planned Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=9bafe4d8d99afcade09dd30bc8b16e1c Kroger Co. and acquisition target Albertsons Cos. might have to divest of even more stores than originally planned in order to get past regulators’ antitrust concerns, according to a new report.

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]]> 578523 Kroger, Albertsons execs make case for mega-merger before Senate subcommittee https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-execs-make-case-for-mega-merger-before-senate-subcommittee/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-execs-make-case-for-mega-merger-before-senate-subcommittee Wed, 30 Nov 2022 16:55:26 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=03e5ae3db79065bfb60f51c7726b86ac Kroger Co. CEO Rodney McMullen and his counterpart from rival Albertsons Cos., the supermarket company Kroger plans to acquire, made their case before a U.S. Senate subcommittee Nov. 28 that the deal won’t cause antitrust issues while facing a barrage ...

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]]> 482011 How $2.3 billion Big 12 TV deal affects University of Houston https://houstonnewmedia.org/how-2-3-billion-big-12-tv-deal-affects-university-of-houston/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-2-3-billion-big-12-tv-deal-affects-university-of-houston Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:27:05 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=93c66bb3454b959ec1e0f703c1579acc The Big 12 Conference has signed a new TV and media rights contract that will provide an additional $160 million a year compared with the previous deal's average value. It kicks in just two years after the University of Houston joins the Big 12.

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]]> 456293 Kroger-Albertsons deal to face U.S. Senate antitrust hearings https://houstonnewmedia.org/kroger-albertsons-deal-to-face-u-s-senate-antitrust-hearings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kroger-albertsons-deal-to-face-u-s-senate-antitrust-hearings Thu, 20 Oct 2022 01:03:53 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=ac9151a4bdd52b60623fc75f26fe0728 The deal that Cincinnati-based Kroger (NYSE: KR) and Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons (NYSE: ACI) announced Oct. 14 would combine the nation’s two largest operators of traditional supermarkets.

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