On Friday. Kroger and Albertsons Companies, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement that calls for Kroger to acquire the Idaho-based grocer.
Kroger will acquire all shares of Albertsons for $24.6 billion.
Albertsons owns the Safeway and Acme chains, which operate Delaware stores. Both have cut their store count over the years, although Acme snapped up some locations from now-defunct Pathmark.
Safeway struggled with the acquisition of Genuardi’s stores in Delaware and Pennsylvania, with Albertsons eventually buying California-based Safeway.
Kroger operates a couple of Harris-Teeter stores in coastal Sussex County.
The massive merger will face antitrust scrutiny with Kroger setting up a company that will sell store locations that regulators are certain to demand.
Such sales may not occur in Delaware, given the shrinking market share of Acme and Safeway. Even so, Acme has stores in strategic locations like Hockessin and Pike Creek in Delaware, which have few nearby competitors.
Albertsons faces stiff competition, including Walmart, Shoprite, and Wegmans, which will open a store near Wilmington later this month. Also in the competitive mix in the region are discount German grocers Lidl and Aldi as well as Dutch-owned Giant and Food Lion.
Together, Albertsons Cos. and Kroger currently employ more than 710,000 and operate a whopping 4,996 stores, 66 distribution centers, 52 manufacturing plants, 3,972 pharmacies, and 2,015 fuel centers.
The deal would give Kroger stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
A release stated that Kroger plans to invest in lowering prices, upgrading Albertsons’ stores, and enhancing benefits as grocers struggle to find entry-level staff.
Acme has taken heat for its pricing, while Shoprite has been criticized by shoppers on social media sites for relying too much on self-checkout lines.
Albertsons and Safeway were combined with the help of private equity funding, with the combined company criticized by shoppers for the condition of stores, although many locations received modest makeovers.
Kroger also has a track record of successfully operating regional brands like Kansas’ Dillon’s, the South’s Harris-Teeter, and Colorado’s King Soopers without converting the stores to its name
“We have been on a transformational journey to evolve Albertsons Cos. into a modern and efficient omnichannel food, and drug retailer focused on building deep and lasting relationships with our customers and communities. I am proud of what our 290,000 associates have accomplished, delivering top-tier performance while furthering our purpose to bring people together around the joys of food and to inspire well-being. Today’s announcement is a testament to their success,” said Vivek Sankaran, CEO of Albertsons Cos.
