A leading retail analyst has said that a tie-up between retail giants Ahold Delhaize and Kroger would create a 'formidable' grocery operator in the US market, which would benefit from 'significant joint-buying benefits'.
Bruno Monteyne of Bernstein Research made the assessment after a recent selloff of shares at Kroger, coupled with positive share price movement at both retail businesses towards the end of last week, despite what Monteyne described as 'badly received' quarterly results at Ahold Delhaize.