Proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger is topic of Arizona attorney general’s listening session
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will be at the Prescott City Council the afternoon of April 12 to discuss the proposed merger between The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos.
Kroger is the parent company of Smith’s and Fry’s Food & Drug Stores in Arizona, and Albertsons operates supermarkets in the state under the Albertsons and Safeway brands, according to a news release.
Albertson’s and Kroger announced the proposed merger Oct. 14, stating an anticipated closing of the $24.6 billion deal by early 2024.
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Mayes has launched an antitrust investigation of the proposed merger, and a series of listening sessions are scheduled for participants to hear directly from families and workers who will be affected by this move. In the coming weeks, listening sessions will be held in Kingman, Tucson, Phoenix, Prescott and Yuma.
These public sessions will be virtual and in-person.
“In addition to skyrocketing prices, the proposed merger raises questions about the potential for store closures that could force consumers to travel farther for groceries — possibly creating food deserts that disproportionately affect minority communities,” Mayes said in the release. Mayes added: “Farmers and ranchers also fear that a consolidated supermarket giant might wield unfair buying power that would force them out of business in favor of corporate producers. I will fight to ensure that Arizona consumers, workers and local grocery producers are not harmed.”
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