All Alaska Carrs stores targeted for sale in Kroger-Albertsons merger plan

A Carrs shop astatine nan Midtown Mall successful Anchorage, 1 of 11 statewide group to beryllium sold nether nan projected merger of market giants Kroger and Albertsons. (Photo by Zachariah Hughes/AKPM)

Kroger and Albertsons scheme to waste 18 market stores successful Alaska, including much than a twelve successful aliases adjacent Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, arsenic portion of nan scheme to merge nan 2 market giants.

The CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons shared a joint video statement following nan announcement. Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran said nan income will thief support prices debased and springiness much options to shoppers. 

“This merger is nan correct point for our customers and our associates,” he said. “For our customers, we fortify nan American unit scenery and thoughtfully selected stores to guarantee customers proceed to person a prime of wherever to shop.”

A list released connected Tuesday includes all 11 Carrs locations successful nan state, positive Eagle and Safeway stores crossed Alaska — 9 of them successful Anchorage and Eagle River, pinch 3 much successful Fairbanks and North Pole. The wide database contains much than 550 different stores crossed nan U.S.

The merger scheme still needs to beryllium approved by regulators. But, if that happens, nan 579 stores connected nan database will beryllium transferred to C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC. C&S operates market stores crossed nan country, including Piggly Wiggly, and is nan nation’s largest wholesale market supplier. 

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said nan database is simply a important measurement toward completing nan merger. 

“Divested stores are not closed stores,” he said. “C&S is committed to operating these stores arsenic they are today.”

Despite nan excitement expressed by nan CEOs, nan scheme has seen a batch of pushback since it was announced successful nan autumn of 2022. 

Local municipalities, authorities lawmakers and Alaska’s U.S. delegation person called to artifact nan merger, arguing it could origin much nutrient insecurity successful agrarian places successful Alaska, thrust up prices and limit options.  

And nan Federal Trade Commission and attorneys wide successful states for illustration Washington, Illinois and California have revenge suits to extremity nan merger.

In a statement, Rep. Mary Peltola said she would “continue to support nan FTC’s efforts to artifact this merger.” 

If nan merger is approved, nan divestiture of nan stores will beryllium astir $3 billion. The companies opportunity location are nary plans to laic disconnected labor astatine nan stores.