A spokeswoman for Cincinnati-based Kroger didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. With 2,800 stores and $148 billion in annual sales, it's the nation's largest grocery retailer. Kroger is trying to increase its dominance by buying Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons for $25 billion. The FTC, however, is suing to block the deal, saying it "will eliminate fierce competition between Kroger and Albertsons, leading to higher prices for groceries and other essential household items for millions of Americans." The antitrust watchdog might have bolstered its case with last week's report about supply disruptions caused by the pandemic. "The pandemic made clear that supply chain bottlenecks, which can be created or exacerbated by limited competition, can leave markets exposed to major supply chain shocks—and that those shocks, in turn, can allow major firms to entrench their dominance and further harm competition," the report said.