Seven states and the District of Columbia have adopted the most expansive laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Most recently, California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada all passed measures in November legalizing recreational marijuana.
It also would be Kroger's biggest takeover since 1998, when it bought the Fred Meyer food and merchandise store chain in the Northwest for more than $12 billion, according to financial data service Bloomberg.
Kroger is in the second round of an auction process for Fresh Market that has also attracted other companies and private equity firms, the people said this week. Apollo Global Management LLC (APO.N), KKR & Co LP (KKR.N) and TPG Capital LP are among the buyout firms participating in the auction, the people added.