Kroger, Albertsons to sell Battle Ground stores amid bigger plan

To ease antitrust concerns, Kroger and Albertsons have announced a plan to sell 124 grocery stores in Washington to C&S Wholesale Grocers, the holding company of the Piggly Wiggly franchise, the companies announced last week.

The divestiture would impact 579 stores nationally. In Battle Ground, the Albertsons at 2108 W. Main St. and Safeway, 904 W. Main St. will be affected, according to a divestiture plan by Kroger and Albertsons released on July 9.

No stores will close due to the merger, and all frontline associates will remain employed, C&S Wholesale Grocers stated on the Kroger and Albertsons merger website.

The merger and sale cannot be completed until an antitrust lawsuit by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is resolved. The trial is slated to begin on Monday, Sept. 16.

C&S Wholesale Grocers is a family-owned company with 104 of operating experience. The Federal Trade Commission validated C&S Wholesale Grocers as a divestiture buyer two years ago, the divestiture plan stated.

For more information about the divestiture, visit shorturl.at/j17mn. Read more about the antitrust lawsuit and upcoming trial at shorturl.at/8pRxQ.