KING COUNTY, Wash. — A legal decision slated to happen today could change the grocery store landscape. A King County Judge could rule today whether the merger of Albertson’s and Kroger moves forward.
Opponents of the merger have said that it could create a monopoly, reduce competition, eliminate jobs, and raise grocery prices.
Chris Yanke is an Edmonds native now living in Southern California, he recognizes why the QFC in Edmonds is important to so many shoppers, especially if it is in danger of closing down post-merger, “it might take away the opportunity to have an affordable grocery store.”
Terry Suryan also lives in Edmonds, and spoke to KIRO 7 on why she feels the merger might not be best for consumers, “to me there would not be enough competition.”
Suryan said she’s seen the storefront on 100th Avenue West in Edmonds go through several names before becoming a Kroger-owned QFC.
Living in Edmonds for more than 80 years she said this store is convenient for so many, “the customers are great that you run into here I see my neighbors, I’ve had most of the checkers since they started here so it would be sad.”
Some like Katherine Winters believe shutting it down would shut out a key option for groceries, “there are some other big chain groceries along Aurora so not too far, but it’s always busy here so a lot of people would miss it.”
Faye Guenther President of the local UFCW represents grocery store workers who opposed the $25 billion merger, “It does not help workers when they need to bargain their contracts it does not help farmers when they are bargaining their contracts, and we put together a coalition to stop the merger.”
Even if the King County judge rules for the merger, other lawsuits are holding it up.
In a statement from January 2024, the Kroger Corporation said:
“Kroger’s combination with Albertsons will mean lower prices and more choices for more customers. With a proven record of lowering prices year over year, Kroger will invest $500 million to reduce prices beginning day one.”
Guenther hopes people realize the gravity of the potential merger, “this is the largest decision that would impact consumers and grocery store workers in my lifetime and in many of our lifetimes so I hope people are watching.”