According to media reports, C&S Wholesale Grocers BB #:137315 is first in line to acquire stores Kroger BB #:100073 and Albertsons BB #:193326 will be required to divest in order to gain regulatory approval for the merger to move ahead.
C&S, which reportedly lost a large chunk of business when Ahold Delhaize moved toward self-distribution in 2019, plans to purchase all of the stores up for sale. An estimated 400 stores are expected to be divested in Kroger and Albertsons’ $24.6 billion deal, according to Reuters.
C&S is working with SoftBank Group on the deal, which could be worth up to $2 billion. Terms have not been disclosed.
