There simply isn't meaningful competition in so many areas of society today, business included. To the point I think an entire generation has forgotten what operating in a competitive environment is like. Both as consumers and producers.

I watch friends who simply have no concept that there is an option outside of the mainstream grocery store chain they go to - as they drive past 2-3 ethnic stores on the way there, all of which are much cheaper on average for items they both carry. These same friends complain about inflation, but take zero action on their part to even learn about other options - much less pursue them. When I ask the response is usually something along the lines of "I've always went to place X for the past 20 years, why would I change now?".

It's going to take shaking a lot of people out of their comfort zones for healthy competition to return to society.

Grocery shoppers are also extremely fickle and price sensitive. As far as mergers in the US go, I'd be surprised if this was blocked.

It means Kroger has a nearly Comcast like monopoly where I live.

That's still the prevailing mindset but the tide is now just beginning to turn back toward sanity.

The American grocery market is far less consolidated than e.g. the Canadian one. Perhaps there is a minimum size necessary for an efficient grocery chain, or perhaps Canadian anti-trust enforcement is far too lax.