Kroger’s $25 billion proposed takeover of rival Albertsons ultimately failed because two judges – one federal and the other from the state of Washington – didn’t buy the competitive vision the grocers were trying to sell,

Albertsons said Kroger has failed to make best efforts to secure regulatory approval of the deal, a claim the latter called “baseless.”

The grocers both signaled that they are in strong financial shape and said they would devote billions of dollars to repurchase shares from investors.