A customer shops for eggs in a Kroger grocery store on August 15, 2022 in Houston, Texas.Brandon Bell | Getty ImagesKroger knows it needs the blessing of investors and federal regulators to pull off its $24.6 billion deal to buy rival grocery company Albertsons.It started making its case Friday, when the companies announced the deal. Kroger said the combination would lower food prices in a time of high inflation, boost profitability and speed up innovation in an otherwise fragmented industry.If approved, the grocers would become a more formidable second place in terms of grocery market share behind Walmart. Together, the companies would capture nearly 16% of the U.S. grocery market, according to market researcher Numerator. Walmart had roughly 21% of the market as of June 30. Albertsons is fourth place. Kroger said it anticipates closing the deal in early 2024, pending regulatory approval.Significant hurdles remain: Some investors question whether the merged companies can increase profits since the grocery business, already known for thin margins, is facing higher costs and cost-conscious shoppers.Since Kroger and Albertsons significantly overlap in several markets, regulators may be concerned that a merged company could price out smaller competitors. The companies employ a combined 710,000 people across about 5,000 stores, so potential job losses are a concern, as well. Convincing regulatorsKroger said it already has a plan to convince regulators. Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said on Friday’s call with investors that the companies anticipate that they will have to divest between 100 and 375 stores.One possibility, he said, is establishing a subsidiary that would be spun off to Albertsons’ shareholders prior to the deal closing and would operate as a standalone public company. Kroger and Albertsons would work together — and with the Federal Trade Commission — to decide which stores would be part of the spinoff company.By the numbersKROGER2,800 s …
