A federal judge has blocked Kroger’s proposed acquisition of rival grocery chain Albertsons in a Tuesday ruling favoring the Federal Trade Commission.

“Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits and the equities weigh in favor of an injunction,” Oregon U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson wrote in her opinion. “The proposed merger between defendants Kroger Company and Albertsons Companies Inc. is enjoined pending the outcome of the administrative proceedings before the Federal Trade Commission.”