“We are bringing together two purpose-driven organizations to deliver superior value to customers, associates, communities and shareholders,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger chairman and CEO, who plans to serve in the same roles at the combined company. “Albertsons Cos. brings a complementary footprint and operates in several parts of the country with very few or no Kroger stores.”
However, not all are pleased with the announcement. Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, said the merger “would not only put smaller competitors at an unfair disadvantage, but also increase anticompetitive buyer power over grocery suppliers, which ultimately would harm consumers.”
His trade association expects “this deal will receive rigorous scrutiny from federal antitrust enforcers.” “A merger of the nation’s top two grocery chains should raise serious questions about a single supermarket giant gaining unprecedented dominance over the nation’s food supply chain,” Ferrara said.
Under the merger, over $1 billion would be incrementally invested into Albertsons stores “to enhance the customer experience,” according to the news release, and the merged company expects to put another $1 billion toward raising associate wages and benefits.
This is bad for everyone...
RIP the best cheesy jalapeño bagels in Denver
Isn’t there a major anti trust concern FTC ?
Oh good, we can add groceries to things we already can’t afford like, higher education, housing, and healthcare.
Will is a strong word.... Let's see how this shakes out with time.
No fucking way. This can't happen fuck bigger grocery store. Stay separate. Let mom & pops survive.
How is this a good idea? Only for Kroger maybe. In the end, who'll get screwed? The consumer, as per normal. Choices will go down, competition will go down, prices will go up and the freaking coasts will dominate any food choices. Backyard gardens are looking better and better.
I question whether this is a good idea for Colorado or other states Attorney General pweiser needs to take a look at this.
Less competition -- Prices will go up
Denver, Colorado Springs-Pueblo, and in Wyoming, Cheyenne, Gillette, Lander, and Riverton are just a few of the 40+ large and small metropolitan areas in 20+ states that will likely see closures, with many remaining stores “competing” only with other Kroger-owned stores.
Isn't this just a monopoly, though? 🙄
And when they raise prices, they’ll use any excuse except “corporate greed,” which is the real problem. Just like oil companies.
Americanism at its finest. We must stop these monster corporations from becoming, well, monstrous corporations. This shouldn’t be legal.
I can’t speak for other states, but this doesn’t seem like it would pass the better for consumers/monopoly test in Colorado.
Wasn't there also something with Safeway? I thought I heard something about that as well.
Ugh. King Soopers is the worst.
Hopefully the SEC will do their job and protect consumers.
Albertsons had better food. Will Kroger destroy it with kings products? The A bakery was great.
How is this not allowing a monopoly?
How is this even legal
Yet another driver of inflation, unemployment, and downward pressure on wages. In a sane world this would never pass anti-trust review.
This should be illegal. Going to make it easier for them to charge us more. Plus offer cheaper, poorly grown food full of chemicals.
How is this good for the consumer?
Terrible news. This creates a monopoly and reduces the amount of competition. Terrible for the people of Colorado!
Soobertsons? Alberpers? Soosons? King Alberts?
I wish they would model after HEB. That's a different tier of grocery store.