I really hope the merger doesn't happen, if I were McMullen I'd be focusing more on the disdain many good people have towards him instead of him finding ways to increase his wealth.
I've shopped at Ralphs and Smiths, both Kroger owned stores. Just before Covid their president gave himself a huge raise but nothing for the workers. Since then they've become almost entirely self serve with less selections and massive price jumps. When I go to Albertsons I find the prices are more reasonable, the selection is far larger and there are still plenty of people to ring you up at the registers. I suspect a merger will be bad news for those who shop at Albertsons but that's just a hunch.
Horrible for customers and employees. They can promise all they want but as soon as the merger goes through who is gonna stop them from raising prices, laying off employees and closing stores. If i was the Government i would say if you have go through selling hundreds of stores just to make it work then whats the purpose? How you competing with the Walmarts and Amazon if your selling up to 600+ stores and warehouses and offices. Doesnt that put you right back down. Theres something else going on employess of all the Albertsons, Tom thumb, etc beware.
@ 1:19 This Senator is an idiot. Did he not just hear him say "Have a positive impact & further grow on what both of our companies are doing"? He turned around and asked him the question he'd just answered!🤣
McMullen was referring to the positive impact it would have on HIS company and how it would further grow if the merger went through. Hawley asked him what positive impact the merger would have on the customers and how it would ease the current issues we’re facing with inflation. He didn’t ask him the same question. He was asking how the merger would benefit those who shop at his stores and bring him the $$$. Two completely different questions. Listen again carefully
In my opinion I worry about the customers & the employees. These 2 major grocery store chains are statically placed to compete with each other for the customers sales. I believe if Kroger buys Vons in California the best store locations will be kept and all others to close to each other will be closed and the employees will be laid off leaving thousands of employees unemployed and their families at risk of loosing everything. Why would two competing companies leave stores in the same area open to compete with each other when only one store is needed? The unions bargaining will be greatly diminished.
This merger will be a disaster. It will create a near monopoly in the Midwest similar to Safeway's dominance on the West Coast where groceries are a lot higher due to lack of competition. Kroger purchased the independent chain Marianos just a few years ago and they immediately raised prices and customer service began to deteriorate. Bad, bad idea. Albertsons, the merger target, is a better run, slightly less expensive store and has better customer service. It will certainly be ruined.
