Local Kroger and Albertsons grocery stores to be sold following proposed merger

CENTRAL COAST REGION, Calif. – Kroger and Albertsons released a list of 63 locations statewide that would be sold as part of a proposed merger between the two companies.

{Editor's Note} An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the California locations would be closed. The locations are being sold as part of the proposed merger.

Among those stores are the Albertsons at 1500 N. H St. in Lompoc, the Morro Bay Albertsons at 730 Quintana Rd., the Santa Barbara Vons at 163 S. Turnpike Rd., and the Vons at 6040 Telegraph Rd.

According to Bloomberg, Kroger's CEO sent a memo to employees at all the listed stores nationwide informing them of the plans to divest from those stores and sell them to C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Crucially, that divestment depends on if the merger goes through.

The Federal Trade Commission challenged the $24.6 billion merger in February of this year citing possible higher prices for groceries due to a reduction in competition in the market as well as negative impacts on workers.

Kroger has denied those claims and stated no stores, distribution centers or manufacturing facilities would be closed.

Kroger argues that customers would benefit from lower prices and added choices according to comments to Bloomberg and Kroger's CEO noted that employees were expected to keep ties to the company in the same interview.

The trial over the proposed merger is currently scheduled for August of this year.