Omaha World-Herald: Merger of Food Giants Could Impact Prices

By one measure, Omaha could become the most concentrated food service market in the nation, with higher prices on food in restaurants, hospitals and schools, if a merger between food service giants Sysco and US Foods is approved.

The Federal Trade Commission last month filed an antitrust lawsuit seeking to block Sysco’s $3.5 billion acquisition of its rival.

A commission analysis said a combined Sysco-US Foods would account for 75 percent of the U.S. food distribution business to national customers, but would have 90 percent of the market share for national customers in Omaha-Council Bluffs.

Matthew Bohacek, system leader for food services at Methodist Health System, says the organization isn't too concerned with the potential price hike in this Omaha World-Herald story.