This merger would be an absolute disaster for the consumer, especially in California where these two chains control easily 80% or more of the supermarkets. Is it not strange that while several states are actively opposing this merger, that Gruesome Newsom has been sitting quietly by saying and doing nothing, especially since these are by far the two largest supermarkets in CA?
Kroger already has announced the locations of the stores they would be selling to C&S, which is primarily a wholesale supplier to smaller supermarkets. In my area, one is an Albertson’s which is across the street from a Kroger’s Ralphs, and the second one is a Vons which is owned by Albertson’s. Both facilities are the oldest supermarkets in the area.
A previous thread on the topic said they would still be smaller than Walmart. I assumed that was only the grocery division but I’m not sure.