Kroger’s plan to acquire supermarket rival Albertsons in a nearly $25 billion deal would create a grocery juggernaut with more than 4,500 stores in 48 states.
On Friday, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen told The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network, what he thought the deal would do for shoppers, workers and Cincinnati. Here are the highlights:
How will the Kroger-Albertsons deal affect shoppers and the products on store shelves?
McMullen: “A lot of supply chain savings will really be helping improve freshness of product because we’ll have warehouses closer to the stores and you’ll be able to take a day or two out of the cycle for those fresh products as well. … When I look at their (Albertsons’ private label) brands, they’ve done a great job. … Between the two companies, we have an amazing portfolio.”
He said Kroger studied Albertsons’ O Organics house brand when it created its own SimpleTruth label that is now a $3 billion brand. Private label or house brands are expected to be key tools in attracting and retaining customers as more shoppers turn to generic store brands to offset the cost of inflation. Combined, Kroger and Albertsons sell $43 billion in private-label products a year.
