Kroger, a leading grocery retailer, has announced plans to sell 35 stores in Illinois as part of its merger with Albertson’s. The affected locations include several Mariano’s and Jewel-Osco stores.
The Cincinnati-based company owns the popular Mariano’s brand while Albertsons is the parent company of Jewel-Osco. According to Kroger, there will be no store closures resulting from these sales. Instead, they will be divested to C&S Wholesale Grocers – the parent company of Piggly Wiggly and Grand Union supermarkets.
Although both companies agreed on the merger in 2022, it faced opposition from antitrust regulators who filed a lawsuit against it in February this year. They argued that the $24.6 billion deal could lead to higher prices for consumers across America. To address these concerns, Kroger has identified 579 locations nationwide for sale – including those in Illinois – as part of their efforts to gain approval for acquiring Albertsons.
This announcement marks an important development in Kroger’s business strategy and highlights their commitment towards complying with regulatory requirements while expanding their market presence through strategic partnerships.
