Letter to Grocery Members from President Cordova

July 9, 2024

To UFCW Local 7 Grocery Members:

Today you may have heard that Kroger and Albertsons released a proposed list of stores to be divested to C&S Wholesale Grocers. We want to assure you that this changes nothing. The merger is NOT a done deal, and we continue to do everything we can to stop it.

As you know, the proposed mega-merger puts our members’ jobs and our communities' wellbeing at risk. If successful, the merger would have devastating impacts across our country, as made evident by the hundreds of stores included on the divestiture list released today. We cannot entrust our grocery stores – which are integral to our communities and our members – to the untested, inexperienced C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Kroger and Albertsons have known which stores they plan to divest for months, and the last-ditch release of the list today is an underhanded attempt to influence the courts and create the perception that the mega-merger is close to final, creating more uncertainty for our members like you.

The merger is being challenged by the state Attorneys General in Colorado, Washington, and many other states, as well as the Federal Trade Commission. These regulators have been in possession of this information for months and are steadfast in their legal challenges to the merger, which kick off at the end of July and are scheduled to run through September.

Even the company’s own press release states this is a proposed list and subject to change. If that is the case, why make it public now before the court dates begin?

As union members, we have protections under the law. If the merger goes through, we have a right to bargain over the effects of the merger. And of course, we will keep you updated every step of the way.

Again: The merger is not a done deal. We will continue to do everything we can to stop it. Thank you for all you do to serve your store and your community. We are stronger together.

In Solidarity,

President Kim C. Cordova