October 2022
Kroger and Albertsons announce their agreement to merge in a $24.6 billion deal, aiming to close the merger in early 2024 pending regulatory approval. UFCW Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin briefs both major party candidates in the election for Arizona Attorney General and asks for their commitment to protect the livelihoods of Local 99’s 20,000 members employed by Kroger and Albertson's subsidiaries.
November 2022
UFCW 99 endorsed candidate Kris Mayes is elected Arizona’s Attorney General. Mayes wins by 500 votes.
December 2022
The Federal Trade Commission requests further details on the merger, signaling closer scrutiny.
February 2023
Attorney General Mayes announces an investigation of the proposed merger.
March 2023
Attorney General Mayes kicks off a statewide tour of community listening sessions to discuss the pending merger with workers and consumers.
May 2023
Kroger reiterates its commitment to keep locations open and retain workers post-merger. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, representing most employees of Albertsons and Kroger, votes to oppose the merger.
September 2023
Kroger and Albertsons unveil a $1.9 billion divestiture plan with C&S Wholesale Grocers to appease federal regulators, involving 413 stores and other assets across 17 states and Washington, D.C.
October 2023
Attorney General Mayes and FTC Chair Lina Khan host a town hall with UFCW Local 99 members in Phoenix to hear questions and concerns regarding the merger.
January 2024
C&S Wholesale announces that they will honor UFCW 99 contracts at divested stores. This ensures that employees at divested Safeway stores will retain their seniority, earned time off, pension plans, and healthcare benefits, should the merger be approved.
February 2024
Attorney General Mayes, the FTC, and a bipartisan coalition of eight states and the District of Columbia announce the filing of a lawsuit challenging the proposed merger. Mayes reports widespread concerns from Arizonans about potential job losses, rising grocery prices, and the exacerbation of food deserts.
March 11, 2024
A hearing date of August 26 is set by Judge Adrienne Nelson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon regarding the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction against the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons.
April 22, 2024
In response to regulatory pressure from the FTC and several state attorneys general, Kroger updates its proposed plan to divest hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers. This includes 101 stores in Arizona that will operate under the Safeway banner.
July 9, 2024
Kroger and Albertsons announce the list of store locations that will be sold to C&S Wholesale, pending the merger’s approval. Per the company’s announcement, these divested stores will operate under the Safeway banner, while the non-divested stores will likely become Fry’s. To view the full list of divested stores,
click here.
Today
The outcome of the pending Kroger-Albertsons merger is still unknown. However, the potential impact of this merger, if approved, has significantly diminished for workers who are protected by a union contract. For workers at Albertsons who are not covered by a union contract, there is nothing to protect them from losing seniority, benefits, accrued time off, or employment. 
