The merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons has been delayed again, that’s according to Alaska Congresswoman, Mary Peltola.
“The newest news is that the companies have postponed their merger until August,” said Rep. Peltola in a phone interview with KSRM. “We will keep advocating against this merger. It was disclosed earlier this week that Kroger is going to delay the expected closing of this deal again. It’s now expected to close before August, apparently sometime in July. and I really feel like our voices in Alaska are making a difference.”
Peltola’s camp has been a vocal opponent of the grocery chains’ corporate merger and is pressing the FTC to prevent it.
“I’m not sure that they gave a lot of explanation as to why they’re postponing it, and that’s kind of the through line–they’re just not being transparent at all,” Peltola said of the corporations’ reason for postponing the merger. “In terms of a lack of transparency. We asked to do a tour of the Safeway warehouse, and they were not comfortable doing that. We were turned down, and that’s really disappointing because really all we want is information and assurances.”
According to the representative, a big reason for her opposition to the merger is the consistent dissent she is hearing from folks in Alaska. “100% of the Alaskans that we’ve heard from are very concerned about this for a myriad of reasons.”
Peltola added that she has been pleased with the support she is receiving from her fellow Alaska delegates, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, as well as other members of the U.S. legislature, and hopes. “The more voices the better,” she said.
In September Kroger, the parent company for Fred Meyer, announced its plan to sell 14 of the 35 Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska as part of a proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, the two largest grocery store companies in the country. At that time it was never stated which specific stores would be sold, however, those locations would likely be Carrs Safeway stores which are both outside major metropolitan areas like Anchorage and close to a competing Fred Meyer location.
Representative Peltola also continues working to try and get FTC Chairperson, Lina Khan, to come to Alaska along with others from the Commission to hear Alaskans’ concerns about the potential negative impacts of the proposed merger.