Kroger, the parent of Fry’s Food Stores and other supermarkets, has identified more than 100 Arizona supermarkets it plans to divest to win approval for its proposed $24.6 billion purchase of Albertsons Cos.
The 101 Arizona supermarkets — all Safeway and Albertsons locations — would be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a company with few regional ties.
The divestitures are designed to ease regulators’ concerns that a combined Kroger-Albertsons company would enjoy a concentrated share of the grocery business in Arizona and several other states. The proposed 101 stores to be divested in Arizona are the second most of any state, trailing only 124 planned store transfers in Washington state. Colorado is third with 91 stores.
Kroger, which also owns some Smith’s supermarkets in northwest Arizona, contends the merger is necessary for it to remain competitive against nonunion grocery rivals, including Walmart, Amazon, Target and others.
Some 20 Safeway or Albertsons within Phoenix city limits are on tap to be transferred to C&S, which mostly operates in the eastern U.S. That’s in addition to 10 each in Scottsdale and Mesa. In addition, Kroger said it plans to unload two Albertsons distribution centers, at 7600 W. Van Buren St. in Phoenix and 400 S. 99th Ave. in Tolleson.
The Phoenix stores slated for divesture:
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Albertsons — 3130 W. Carefree Hwy.
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Albertsons — 8035 N. 19th Avenue
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Albertsons — 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. Suite 76
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Albertsons — 18411 N. Cave Creek Road
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Safeway — 3655 W. Anthem Way
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Safeway — 4005 E. Chandler Boulevard
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Safeway — 6202 S. 16th Street
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Safeway — 4811 N. 83rd Avenue
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Safeway — 1334 E. Chandler Boulevard
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Safeway — 5035 W. Baseline Road
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Safeway — 4747 E. Elliot Road
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Safeway — 520 W. Osborn Road
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Safeway — 3132 E. Camelback Road
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Safeway — 3450 W. Bell Road
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Safeway — 340 E. McDowell Road
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Safeway — 810 E. Glendale Avenue
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Safeway — 13440 N. Seventh Street
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Safeway — 4747 E. Greenway Road
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Safeway — 4750 E. Indian School Road
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Safeway — 550 E. Bell Road
View the complete list of Arizona divestitures.
Kroger and Albertsons Cos. are among the biggest employers in Arizona. Kroger counted 20,200 statewide employees and Albertsons, 14,500, in last year’s Republic 100 report on largest statewide employers.
If the deal goes through, Kroger would retain 34 Albertsons and Safeway locations in Arizona, plus the 131 Fry’s and Smith’s it already has in the state.
Reach the writer at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Your local Safeway or Albertsons market could be sold. The list:
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