(Bloomberg)—The chief govt officers of Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. will testify earlier than the Senate on Tuesday about their firms’ proposed $24.6 billion merger.

The listening to will give attention to Kroger’s deliberate takeover of Albertsons, a major merger that skeptical lawmakers say may scale back competitors amongst supermarkets.

Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran and Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen will argue in favor of the merger earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has been scrutinizing the detrimental results of consolidation within the financial system.

Albertsons and Kroger are two of the most important grocery retailer chains within the US.

The listening to may even function an anti-monopoly advocate from Client Studies, a College of Maryland professor and Michael Needler, the CEO of Recent Encounter, Inc., a smaller grocery retailer chain.

Kroger in an announcement when the listening to was introduced stated it believed the merger would profit Individuals.

“We welcome the chance to stipulate how this transaction will profit America’s shoppers by increasing entry to recent, inexpensive meals and establishing a extra compelling various to giant, non-union retailers,” Kroger stated.

Albertsons in an announcement stated the merger “will present vital advantages to shoppers, associates and communities and gives a compelling various to bigger and non-union rivals.”

The proposed merger would create a grocery firm with an annual income of about $200 billion and practically 5,000 shops.

The heads of the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, and Utah Republican Mike Lee, stated in an announcement that they’ve “severe considerations” concerning the deal.

“The grocery trade is crucial, and we should be certain that it stays aggressive in order that American households can afford to place meals on the desk,” they stated in an October assertion.

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