Over a year ago, I began a set of listening sessions around the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons. That first conversation was in Gunnison, a community with only two supermarkets—one Safeway and one City Market. At that conversation (captured in this photo), County Commissioner Liz Smith and others showed up to raise concerns about the impacts on supply chains (undermining reliable access to fresh food), grocery prices, employees’ jobs, Colorado produce and agriculture, and more.
Those conversations were at the forefront of my mind yesterday when I announced a lawsuit to stop this mega merger from happening. |
Since that conversation, I held 18 more discussions around Colorado, traveling to Greeley, Cortez, La Junta, and every corner of our State. What stayed with me was not only how worried Coloradans were about this merger—particularly its impacts on their pocketbooks and jobs—but also how much the people who showed up cared about one another and how it would harm their neighbors. Workers shared their concerns for consumers, consumers spoke of their concerns for suppliers, and suppliers talked about their concerns for workers.
In fact, the day before we filed a lawsuit challenging the merger, Albert, who worked for Safeway in Pueblo for over 30 years, told me how worried he was about this proposed merger—particularly for those people who worked and shopped in Pueblo. I listened to Albert and so many others, as explained in this press release and my statement announcing this action. Our action honors the input of Albert and others who raised serious concerns about this merger. And I will do all I can to protect the people of Colorado by fighting to ensure that this merger does not happen. |
Thanks so much for supporting me in this important work. Phil |
