Albertsons and Kroger have been doing this everywhere and Kroger has their eye on acquiring Albertsons as a result.
If successful, a joint merger between Albertsons and Kroger would monopolize Grocery stores and they do NOT result in lower prices in any way shape or form. Proven fact (see Albertsons acquisition of VONS etc).
The government needs to get their anti-monopoly crap together and stop this madness.