Staff

            This week Kroger and Albertson’s released the list of stores that would be sold off under the merger they have proposed. The vast majority of locations in the Golden State are right here in Southern California and include nine area stores that have been staples in South L.A., Inglewood, Westchester, Carson, and Marina Del Rey. They include the Albertson’s on Crenshaw, the Pavilions on Jefferson Blvd in Culver City, and the Vons on Manchester Blvd. (A complete list is provided below).

            Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas—whose district stretches from Century City to Leimert Park, South L.A., Playa Vista, and Culver City—has been open in her opposition to the move that she believes will threaten the livelihoods of thousands of workers across California and undermine the economic health of our communities. 

            “If allowed to proceed,” said Smallwood-Cuevas, “this merger would lead to substantial job losses, devastating workers who depend on these jobs to support their families.

            “The consolidation of two major grocery chains would cause significant store closures, disproportionately impacting low-income communities that are already exposed to food desert environments. This merger would also result in a monopoly that would drive up prices, making it harder for families who are struggling to afford the food that they need.”

            The Federal Trade Commission is challenging the merger, arguing that the proposed $24.6 billion deal would result in higher grocery prices due to decreased competition in the marketplace and could also have negative implications for workers. Kroger, however, refutes these claims, asserting that no stores, distribution centers, or manufacturing facilities would be closed and that the merger would benefit customers by providing lower prices and more choices.

            The companies claim the merger is essential to compete with larger, non-unionized competitors such as Amazon.com, Walmart, and Costco. Additionally, the companies have committed to investing $500 million to reduce prices and $1 billion to increase worker wages and benefits, alongside $1.3 billion dedicated to enhancing Albertsons stores.

            UFCW unions (Locals 7, 324, 400, 770, and 3000), who have helped lead the anti-merger efforts against the Kroger and Albertsons proposed mega-merger, held a press conference to provide updates on their efforts to block the merger from going forward, after the companies’ disclosed their list of proposed divested stores, should the merger be approved.

            The press conference was held just a few weeks before a series of court cases to block the proposed Kroger and Albertsons mega-merger brought by the Attorney General of Washington, the Attorney General of Colorado, and the Federal Trade Commission began.

            “History shows we can’t take merger promises at face value,” said Jessica Crowley, UFCW Local 770 member and pharmacist at Albertsons-owned Pavilions in Los Angeles, California. “When Albertsons acquired Safeway in 2015 and divested about 150 stores to Haggen, many grocery stores shut down, leaving thousands jobless for months. Let’s be clear: this mega-merger will negatively impact retail workers, smaller suppliers, independent chains, and communities already facing challenges with food and medication access. C&S Wholesale Grocers’ limited experience in retail pharmacy makes the divestiture plan highly unlikely to succeed.”

            The Stop the Merger campaign includes over 100 national, state, and local organizations representing diverse interests who share a common goal: to stop the proposed Kroger/Albertsons grocery merger because of its negative impact on our nation’s communities. 

            The proposed merger is still pending regulatory approval. A complete list of L.A. area stores that are on the list of those to be sold is as follows:

  • Albertsons – 200 E Sepulveda Blvd, Carson
  • Pavilions – 11030 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City
  • Vons – 500 E Manchester Blvd, Inglewood
  • Albertsons – 3901 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles
  • Vons – 3118 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles
  • Vons – 3461 W 3rd St, Los Angeles
  • Vons – 1430 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles
  • Vons – 6571 W 80th St, Los Angeles
  • Pavilions – 4365 Glencoe Ave, Marina del Rey