After news of a $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons surfaced, there have been several talks about the potential transition, including the divestment of 250–300 stores to alleviate antitrust concerns. Now, C&S Wholesale Grocers has entered the discussion, potentially positioning itself to acquire stores from the two retailers to help move the deal forward.
As reported by Bloomberg, C&S is in talks to buy grocery stores that Kroger and Albertsons are selling to win regulatory approval for their $25 billion merger, according to people familiar with the matter.
C&S, which has partnered with SoftBank for the transaction, could announce a deal as soon as this week to acquire most or all of the stores they are unloading for antitrust reasons.
The stores that the firms may sell could be worth more than $1 billion and are located across all the regions where the two companies operate, reported Reuters, such as the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, Phoenix, and Chicago.
Stay with Deli Market News as we continue to report on the latest.
