Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Service
Gov. Katie Hobbs said Wednesday she is “concerned” about some of the effects on Arizona of a proposed merger of the state’s two largest grocery chains.
But the governor said she’s not ready to say whether she will oppose the combination of Kroger Co., the parent of Smith’s and Fry’s Foods, with Albertsons Companies, which operates not just stores under its own name but purchased Safeway and all the stores that company owned in 2015.
Her comments come as Attorney General Kris Mayes is conducting her own probe into the effects of the combination, not only on shoppers but the estimated 35,000 workers at both chains.
Other Arizona officials, however, are not waiting for that. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and colleagues from six other states already have asked the Federal Trade Commission to block the proposed $24.6 billion deal where Kroger would purchase its competitor.
And on Wednesday, a member of the state’s congressional delegation added his voice.
