Kroeger, the parent company of King Soopers, announced their $26 billion-dollar deal to purchase Albertsons, Safeway's parent company, on Friday. The deal is expected to close in 2024.
Denver resident Hobert Herman shops at both grocery stores, specifically off 14th and Krameria, where a King Soopers and Safeway are right across the street from each other.But, that type of competition is likely to end after the merger, according to Metropolitan State University Economics Professor Kishore Kulkarni.
The companies plan to sell off nearly 400 locations in order to secure antitrust clearance, but Kulkarni points out, they would still remain a powerhouse in Colorado.