Albertsons has officially abandoned its proposed merger with Kroger, which was halted by courts due to antitrust concerns. Following this, Albertsons filed a lawsuit against Kroger, accusing it of failing to adequately pursue regulatory approval for the $24.6 billion merger. The lawsuits arose after two judges issued injunctions citing reduced competition as a key issue. Kroger disputes these claims, stating that Albertsons is responsible for the merger's failure. The legal battle could intensify, affecting both companies' futures.