Followup: Safeway’s buyer uncloaks – Albertsons parent Cerberus

Thanks to Marlowe and Eric for pointing out the announcement – Safeway‘s buyer is no longer a secret; two weeks after first word the chain was talking with a potential buyer, it’s been announced that buyer is Cerberus Capital Management, parent of Albertsons. The two supermarket chains are describing it as a merger. Together, they’ll have about 2,400 stores, just under the 2,600 owned by Kroger, parent of QFC and Fred Meyer. And so far, they’re saying there are no plans to close any of the stores. West Seattle has three Safeways and no Albertsons. The latter closed a store in White Center (now Saar’s Super Saver Foods) two years ago. Here’s the official announcement.

redblack March 6, 2014 (5:42 pm)

i haven’t googled this, but isn’t/wasn’t cerberus the company that bought/bailed out chrysler?

WSB March 6, 2014 (6:05 pm)

RB – Google reveals that to indeed have been the case back in 2007.

steve March 6, 2014 (6:32 pm)

It’s a really perfect deal. Both stores truly deserve each other. Somehow I doubt Safeway’s produce will get better, or that Albertsons false advertising will be corrected. Fred Meyer/Kroger has already won the battle on price and quality.
I predict that after Cerberus has squeezed the remaining wealth from the stores, they will then sell off what’s left of the bones. You heard it here first folks!

dsa March 6, 2014 (8:49 pm)

They started looking and acting like Albertson’s, might as well be Albertsons.

A March 6, 2014 (9:26 pm)

Albertsons is a horrible store.

Anne March 6, 2014 (9:38 pm)

BLECH!

Vic March 7, 2014 (7:21 am)

I agree with Anne.

DTK March 7, 2014 (8:43 am)

“Cerberus is a three-headed dog, or “hellhound” with a serpent’s tail, a mane of snakes, and a lion’s claws. It guards the entrance of Hades to prevent those who entered from ever escaping.” – Wiki

I guess this means they will sell some mean Deviled Eggs!

T Rex March 7, 2014 (10:09 am)

Even more reason for me to never step foot in a Safeway OR and Albertsons. I cannot stand either.

Support your local Thriftway! Locally owned and operated and a big part of our community!

Joan March 7, 2014 (1:36 pm)

That’s not good news. I suppose Albertson’s will now raise Safeway’s prices to the ridiculous levels of Albertson’s. PCC and Trader Joe’s still have the bulk of my biz. Fred Meyer looking better all the time.

Sorry, comment time is over.