Today, Kroger Foods, Albertson’s, and C&S Family of Companies announced the 579 stores that Kroger and Albertsons would sell to C&S Wholesale Grocers. C&S owns Grand Union Supermarkets, the famous Piggly Wiggly Stores, and several other grocery-related companies. Both C&S chains are predominantly on the South and East Coasts. No word has been given on how the stores would be rebranded or long-term plans for the acquisitions. The Safeway in Bozeman, located on West Main Street, is the only other Montana store slated to be sold as part of the merger.
The Merger of Albertson’s and Kroger (the owner of Smiths Foods in Market Place) has been challenged by the Federal Trade Commission and has received very vocal opposition from the United Food & Commercial Workers Union. The divestiture of the stores is thought to help ease regulatory concerns and move the merger forward. Part of the agreement for stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Wyoming to be operated, under license agreement, as Albertson’s. We have reached out to C&S for clarification of what brand name the store would operate under.
While attempts to get comments from the Kroger, Albertson’s, and the Federal Trade Commission were not returned as of press time, we’ll have updates for all of our readers as the process progresses. C&S responded to our inquiries with the following:
“We are also very excited to welcome thousands of highly skilled grocery retail, store and distribution team members from Kroger and Albertsons who are currently responsible for these supermarkets. Their knowledge, along with C&S’s wholesale and supply expertise, will ensure these stores continue to successfully serve their communities. C&S will recognize the union workforce and maintain all collective bargaining agreements. We are committed to retaining frontline employees and further investing in growth.
C&S is well prepared to successfully operate these stores for many generations to come. We have an experienced management team with an extensive background in food retail and distribution, and the financial strength to continue investing in growth. Our retail transformation furthers C&S’s ability to maintain our legacy of braggingly happy customers.”
Author: Andy Anderson
Andy is publisher of Foxys Publishing Co, as well as pressman, ad sales, distribution and sometime janitor. He occasionally makes a wild attempt at writing but quite often is seen running around our offices trying to "Get 39 million things done today..."
