Los Angeles City Councilmembers Call for Opposition to Kroger-Albertsons Merger

Contact: Jonathan Davila
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Los Angeles City Councilmembers Call for Opposition to Kroger-Albertsons Merger

LOS ANGELES, CA - Five Los Angeles City Councilmembers introduced a resolution on Friday calling for the City of Los Angeles to formally oppose the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger Company and Albertsons. The merger could result in the sale of 14 Los Angeles supermarkets to C&S Wholesale Grocers, leaving their future uncertain.  

"We’re sending a clear message to our federal leaders that the City of Los Angeles is unequivocally opposed to the Kroger-Albertsons merger,” said Councilwoman Park, one of the resolution’s signatories. “We can’t risk losing community serving assets that provide pathways into middle class jobs with union wages and good benefits.” 

In February 2024, the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger, alleging that it would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and decreased quality for essential household items, while also threatening the livelihoods of grocery workers.

“The merger between Kroger and Albertsons is bad for our consumers, our communities, and our workers. The City must do what we can to protect our most vulnerable, and stop this plan from happening,” stated Councilmember Heather Hutt.

Councilmember John Lee underscored the direct impact on local communities, stating, “The proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons threatens the existence of stores that our communities depend on to feed their families. It threatens the livelihood of thousands of workers and their families and the health of our local neighborhoods. Healthy competition leads to better customer prices and better wages for workers. This merger will fail at both.”

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez also voiced his concerns, stating, “We will not tolerate a plan that will result in fewer choices, higher prices, and lower wages.”

Councilmember Tim McOsker added, "We can’t stand still as large national companies make decisions based on their bottom lines that harm our neighborhoods, our constituents, and our families. The prospective Kroger-Albertsons merger is detrimental to our communities and our local workforce - both today and in the future. It is crucial for the City of Los Angeles to stand strong in our legislative policy to oppose this merger and prevent the erosion of good jobs and neighborhood-serving stores."

Monique Hightower, a store clerk and member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, which represents thousands of grocery workers in Southern California and has actively mobilized against the merger, emphasized the severe consequences for employees and customers, saying “If Kroger and Albertsons were allowed to become one big company, it would result in store closures, food and pharmacy deserts, layoffs, and higher prices, especially since the company’s plan to divest 579 stores, including my Albertsons store, to C&S Wholesale Grocers. The potential closure of our stores would be disastrous for employees like me, who rely on our jobs to support our families, and customers who depend on us for their daily necessities.”

The resolution, which was introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park, Councilmember Maruqeece Harris-Dawson, Councilwoman Heather Hutt, Councilmember John Lee, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and Councilmember Tim McOsker, has been referred to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee for further consideration.