Mars’ $36 Billion Deal Faces Khan’s ‘Chocolate Oligopoly’ Views

  • Khan wrote about a lack of candy competition in 2013
  • Megadeal comes as grocery pricing is in political spotlight

Mars bar snacks

Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
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Years before she became the chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan lamented a lack of competition in candy.

Her views gain new relevance now that she leads the agency that’s expected to take a tough look at whether Mars Inc. should be allowed to buy Cheez-It maker Kellanova for nearly $36 billion, the largest packaged food deal in years.