It's been no secret that Kroger has wanted to purchase the Albertsons grocery chain. The Kroger company announced its quest in October of 2022, but in February 2024, the Federal Trade Commission sued to put on the brakes.
In its suit, the FTC alleged that the "largest supermarket merger in U.S. history will eliminate competition and raise grocery prices for millions of Americans, while harming tens of thousands of workers." The FTC has been uniformly scathing in its condemnation of the $24.6 billion acquisition.
"Kroger operates thousands of stores across 36 states, which includes regional banners such as Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Kroger, and Quality Food Centers. Albertsons also operates thousands of stores across 35 states under regional names including Albertsons, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Safeway, and Vons." The FTC said the "new" Kroger would control more than 5,000 stores, approximately 4,000 retail pharmacies and employ nearly 700,000 employees across 48 states.
Albertsons located at 105 E. Southfield Rd. in Shreveport, La., Thursday, July 11, 2024.
In order to complete the merger, Kroger agreed to to sell 579 locations to C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC, a company that prior to the sale has been predominantly a wholesale grocery supplier.
The locations to be sold include two Albertsons in Louisiana, 105 E. Southfield Road in Shreveport and 2750 Country Club Road in Lake Charles. According to C&S, the stores that are sold will continue to operate as grocery stores, although it is unclear what name the Shreveport store will operate under if the merger is allowed to happen.
The merger is not a done deal. The FTC lawsuit required that Kroger and Albertsons file an expedited response by 1 p.m. Thursday. As of press time, a response, if filed, was not made publicly available. Stay tuned.