In the Golden State, the deal would see 63 stores sold off. (Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone)
CALIFORNIA — Kroger and Albertsons have unveiled hundreds of stores they plan to sell to secure federal approval for two of the nation's largest grocery chains to complete a $25 billion mega merger.
The companies first announced an agreement for Kroger to acquire Albertsons in 2022, quickly drawing scrutiny from federal antitrust regulators. The combined company would own nearly 5,000 stores, thousands of pharmacies and fuel centers, and dozens of distribution centers and plants.
Kroger-owned brands in California include Ralphs and Food 4 Less. Albertsons is the parent company of Safeway, Vons and Pavilions.
Calling it the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history, the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the acquisition earlier this year, arguing it could eliminate competition, drive prices higher and reduce choices for shoppers. The FTC and union leaders have also expressed concerns over how the deal could impact more than 710,000 workers employed by the two companies.
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen has argued the merger would save up to $1 billion in administrative costs and help streamline manufacturing and distribution channels, allowing for lower prices at the register and higher wages for workers.
The suit is scheduled to head to trial at the end of August.
Initially, the companies planned to sell off more than 400 stores across the country. Under the updated plan, the two grocery giants would offload 572 stores, six distribution centers and a dairy plant to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based company that owns the Piggy Wiggly and Grand Union brands.
In the Golden State, the deal would see 63 stores sold to C&S, largely comprised of Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions locations in Southern California, three stores on the Central Coast and one Safeway in the Bay Area.
In a message shared Tuesday, Kroger's CEO said the deal included commitments from C&S to continue operating the stores, honor existing collective bargaining agreements and avoid layoffs.
These are the California stores that will be sold to C&S under the agreement:
Vons — 5671 Kanan Rd, Agoura Hills
Pavilions — 9467 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills
Pavilions — 1110 W Alameda Ave, Burbank
Vons — 301 N Pass Ave, Burbank
Vons — 820 Arneill Rd, Camarillo
Vons — 6951 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Vons — 3439 Via Montebello, Carlsbad
Albertsons — 200 E Sepulveda Blvd, Carson
Vons — 185 E 17th St, Costa Mesa
Pavilions — 11030 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City
Albertsons — 33601 Del Obispo St, Dana Point
Vons — 2606 Del Mar Heights Rd, Del Mar
Albertsons — 2899 Jamacha Rd, El Cajon
Albertsons — 7201 Yorktown Ave, Huntington Beach
Albertsons — 16600 Bolsa Chica St, Huntington Beach
Vons — 500 E Manchester Blvd, Inglewood
Vons — 3233 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta
Pavilions — 7544 Girard Ave, La Jolla
Vons — 78271 Hwy 111, La Quinta
Pavilions — 600 N Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach
Albertsons — 1500 N H St, Lompoc
Vons — 1820 Ximeno Ave, Long Beach
Vons — 11322 Los Alamitos Blvd, Los Alamitos
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 — 29211 Heathercliff Rd, Malibu
Vons — 410 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach
Pavilions — 4365 Glencoe Ave, Marina del Rey
Vons — 2039 Verdugo Blvd, Montrose
Albertsons — 730 Quintana Rd, Morro Bay
Albertsons — 541 S Reino Rd, Newbury Park
Pavilions — 2660 San Miguel Dr, Newport Beach
Pavilions — 1000 Bayside Dr, Newport Beach
Albertsons — 9022 Balboa Blvd, Northridge
Vons — 17380 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades
Albertsons — 42095 Washington St, Palm Desert
Albertsons — 1751 N Sunrise Way Ste 1, Palm Springs