COLORADO, USA — King Soopers parent company Kroger could announce a deal to buy rival grocer Albertsons, the parent company of Safeway, as soon as this week, sources told CNBC.
The all-cash acquisition may be announced as soon as Friday morning, sources said.
Kroger is the largest supermarket operator in the country with about two dozen brands, including King Soopers and City Market. The company employs about 21,700 people at its 148 retail stores in Colorado, according to its website.
Albertsons is made up of 20 brands, including Safeway. There are 103 Safeway locations and two Albertsons locations in Colorado, according to the company's websites.
In a statement Thursday, United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 7 said the potential merger "would significantly harm local grocery store industries, essential grocery store workers, and customers across the western US from Southern California to the Canadian border to Colorado."
UFCW, which represents grocery employees across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, said the merger "will no doubt create a monopoly in the grocery industry for many communities."
“The proposed merger of these two grocery giants is devastating for workers and consumers alike and must be stopped. Just as our UFCW workers stood together to negotiate landmark new contracts with both Kroger and Albertsons/Safeway last year across the western US, we will stand united to fight for access to nutritious food, a safe shopping experience, and investments in good jobs in our communities," UFCW said in a statement.
From February: Grocery workers union reaches tentative deal with Safeway
King Soopers and Safeway did not respond to 9NEWS' requests for comment Thursday evening.
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