Kroger plans to buy Safeway and Albertsons; C.O. shoppers voice mixed reaction

A mega-merger is in the works as the parent company of Fred Meyer made a move to buy Safeway and Albertsons. Kroger has made a $24 billion bid. The company has 2,800 stores in 35 states. Albertsons has 2,200 stores in 34 states, which includes the Safeway chain. The merger would give Kroger control of 13% of the grocery store market in the U.S., which will likely be scrutinized by anti-trust regulators. Some shoppers in Bend had a mixed reaction.