(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Grocery store giant Kroger is in discussions with its smaller rival Albertsons for a potential merger that would create a U.S. supermarket powerhouse. In the middle of a deal: Chicago’s Jewel and Mariano’s stores.
People familiar with the talks say a merger could be announced as soon as this week between Kroger, which owns Mariano’s stores, and Albertsons, parent of the iconic Jewel brand.
“Somebody’s going to have to sell some stores,” Phil Lempert of Super Market Guru tells the WBBM Newsradio Noon Business Hour.
Lembert said it’s possible that a merger, if approved, would give Amazon an opportunity make greater headway into the Chicago market.
“Probably Amazon, Amazon Fresh are going to take over some of those stores, probably some of the Jewel stores that, frankly, need a refresh,” he said. “And we’ll start to see Amazon Fresh expand in Chicago and have a third major player in there.”
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