Editing Albertsons (section)

==History==
===Beginnings===
Albertsons was founded in 1939 by [[Joe Albertson]] (1906–1993) on July 21 in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], [[Idaho]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/about-us/history.html|title=Our History|website=www.albertsonscompanies.com|access-date=2018-12-13|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216030924/https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/about-us/history.html|url-status=live}}</ref> An ad in Boise's ''[[Idaho Statesman]]'' newspaper touted Albertson's first store as "Idaho's largest and finest food store." The store was filled with perks that, at the time, were brand new: free parking, a money-back guarantee, and even an ice cream shop. The original store was built onto several times, but it was demolished in 1979, and a replacement store was built on the same property. A brick monument stands on the northwest corner of 16th and State Streets in downtown Boise, commemorating the original store.

[[File:Albertson's cheese department, 1955.jpg|thumb|The cheese department of an Albertsons in [[Seattle]] (1955)|left]]
The grocery store was an enormous success, and Albertson reinvested his profits back into the business. New stores were opened in neighboring towns to the west: [[Nampa, Idaho|Nampa]], [[Caldwell, Idaho|Caldwell]], and [[Emmett, Idaho|Emmett]], before [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|America's entry into World War II]] in late 1941. The company grew steadily in the years following [[World War II]]. When Albertson was considering putting a new store in a town, he would drive around the town and look for neighborhoods with children's clothing hanging on clotheslines, and station wagons in driveways; he knew that those kinds of neighborhoods were where he wanted to build his stores.

Albertson's, Inc. became a public company in 1959, and its growth continued, opening its hundredth store in [[Seattle]] in 1963.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Capace |first=Nancy |title=Encyclopedia of Idaho |publisher=Somerset Publishers, Inc. |year=2000 |isbn=0-403-09606-5 |location=Santa Barbara, CA |pages=143 |language=en}}</ref> in 1964, Albertsons expanded to [[Southern California|southern]] [[California]] by acquiring All American Markets, a small chain based in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]].

In 1967, Albertsons expanded into [[Colorado]], acquiring eight stores from [[Roy Furr|Furr's Supermarkets]]. By the end of the 1960s, Albertsons operated over 200 stores within a nine-state region and the stores averaged about 20,000 square feet in size.<ref name=":3" />

===Partnership with Skaggs and 1970s expansion===
In 1969, Albertsons partnered with [[Skaggs Drug Centers]], owned by [[Skaggs Companies|the Skaggs Companies, Inc.]], to create the first combination food/drug stores,<ref name="auto"/> first in Texas. The partnership was a tremendous success for several years. The partnership ended due to the fact that it was getting more difficult to control. Neither partner could buy the other out, and the partnership was dissolved amicably in 1977. Skaggs kept stores in [[Texas]], [[Oklahoma]], and [[Arkansas]], and Albertsons kept stores in [[Florida]], [[Alabama]], and [[Louisiana]], as well as some Texas stores (based in San Antonio).<ref name="fundinguniverse.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/albertson-s-inc-history/|title=History of Albertson's, Inc.|website=Fundinguniverse.com|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312055315/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/albertson-s-inc-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Albertsons continued to expand its base in the West during this time. In 1973, Albertsons opened its first distribution center in [[Brea, California]]. In 1974, Albertsons bought the four-store Monte Mart chain in northern California.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Immigrant Voices: Discover Immigrant Stories from Angel Island| work = AIISFIV.org| access-date = 2019-08-10| url = https://www.immigrant-voices.aiisf.org/stories-by-author/894-the-adventures-of-lit-ng/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190810020624/https://www.immigrant-voices.aiisf.org/stories-by-author/894-the-adventures-of-lit-ng/| archive-date = August 10, 2019| url-status = dead}}</ref>
Albertsons bought Fazio's Shopping Bag in 1978 from [[Fisher Foods]], adding 46 stores in Southern California.

===Expansion in the 1980s===
In 1981, Albertsons entered Nebraska and South Dakota.

In 1982, Albertsons reorganized its management into four regions: California, Northwest, Intermountain, and South. Albertsons continued to add stores in the 1980s, building or acquiring about 283 stores during the decade. Albertsons continued to expand in Texas beyond the Skaggs base in north Texas and San Antonio, re-entering the Dallas–Fort Worth market in 1984, and adding three [[Skaggs-Alpha Beta]] stores in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] within months after entering that market in early 1989 with the acquisition of six [[Tom Thumb (grocery store)|Tom Thumb]] stores.

Albertsons built its first fully mechanized distribution center in [[Portland, Oregon]], in 1988.

In 1989, Albertsons opened its 500th store, in [[Temecula, California]].

===Expansion in the 1990s===
[[File:Albertsons (16).JPG|thumb|An Albertsons that converted from [[Buttrey Food & Drug|Buttrey Food and Drug]] in [[Missoula, Montana]]]]
Albertsons began to expand heavily in the 1990s.<ref name="auto"/> In 1992, Albertsons bought the stores [[American Stores]] (formerly Skaggs Drugs Cos.) had in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Florida. Many of the stores had been opened as Skaggs Albertsons originally (later turning into "Skaggs Alpha Beta" under American Stores ownership) but by 1991 had been rebranded as [[Jewel-Osco]]. These included a few stores that American Stores opened in the late 1980s under that name in Florida. Additionally, a non-food distribution center in [[Ponca City, Oklahoma]], was purchased from ASC.

In 1994, Albertsons would acquire four stores from [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]] chain [[Big Bear Markets]].

The Skaggs acquisition was a success, and the new stores were integrated into Albertsons's Southern division. The ease of that acquisition and Albertsons's high-flying stock price led Albertsons to attempt expansion on a grand scale. In a series of acquisitions in the late 1990s, Albertsons purchased [[Seessel's]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/113148777/|title=The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee on June 3, 1998 · Page 35|website=Newspapers.com|date=June 3, 1998 |access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331030119/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/113148777/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 14 other stores from [[Bruno's]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/113461381/|title=The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee on August 25, 1998 · Page 37|website=Newspapers.com|date=August 25, 1998 |access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923051113/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/113461381/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Buttrey Food & Drug]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/1998/09/ftc-negotiates-settlements-albertsonsbuttrey-merger-keep|title=FTC Negotiates Settlements in Albertson's/Buttrey Merger to Keep Supermarket Prices Competitive in Montana and Wyoming|date=September 22, 1998|website=Ftc.gov|access-date=March 30, 2017|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331114420/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/1998/09/ftc-negotiates-settlements-albertsonsbuttrey-merger-keep|url-status=live}}</ref> (divesting seven Buttrey stores and six Albertsons stores to [[Smith's Food and Drug|Smith's]] and another two  Buttrey stores to [[SuperValu (United States)|SuperValu]]), the Springfield, Missouri [[Smitty's (retailer)|Smitty's]] chain, and three Super One Foods stores from Miner's Inc. in the Des Moines market, all while building new stores across all divisions. These acquisitions brought Albertsons into five new states: Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, and Tennessee.<ref name="fundinguniverse.com"/>

==== Albertsons Express gas stations ====
Albertsons launched a new branch of their brand in 1997, Albertsons Express, which included a fuel center and a convenience store.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Sowell |first=John |date=December 21, 2017 |title=Cold-brew coffee on tap? This new Albertsons convenience store has it |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article190825734.html |website=Idaho Statesman}}</ref> The first of the Albertsons Express opened that year in [[Eagle, Idaho]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://csnews.com/albertsons-returns-convenience-channel-express-revival|title=Albertsons Returns to Convenience Channel With Express Revival|website=Convenience Store News|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904030010/https://csnews.com/albertsons-returns-convenience-channel-express-revival|url-status=live}}</ref> This branch was constructed in front of the parking lot of Albertson's full-size grocery store at the city's Parkcenter Boulevard.<ref name=":4" /> This concept was not limited to Idaho; it expanded to locations across America located on Albertsons’ existing/new stores properties. A few of the locations with Express Gas Stations include [[Gresham, Oregon|Gresham]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5193436,-122.4011393,3a,90y,108.72h,89.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAkWYjmT-F11v1sV83UiUbA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024507/https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5193436,-122.4011393,3a,90y,108.72h,89.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAkWYjmT-F11v1sV83UiUbA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Hillsboro, Oregon|Hillsboro]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5292874,-122.955316,3a,75y,331.03h,88.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suRLIw1MV5yId0MFqz0fBGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024507/https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5292874,-122.955316,3a,75y,331.03h,88.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suRLIw1MV5yId0MFqz0fBGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|url-status=live}}</ref> and Portland<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5554873,-122.601694,3a,49y,177.94h,91.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skUGnfPtBQjKTE1_KytrLHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024507/https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5554873,-122.601694,3a,49y,177.94h,91.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skUGnfPtBQjKTE1_KytrLHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Oregon]]; [[Houston]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://houstonhistoricretail.com/grocery/albertsons/|title=Albertsons|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024509/https://houstonhistoricretail.com/grocery/albertsons/|url-status=live}}</ref> in Texas; and [[Casper, Wyoming|Casper]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8348689,-106.337273,3a,75y,339.17h,89.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saQWMr1_ushj4zYmNq-lCug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024506/https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8348689,-106.337273,3a,75y,339.17h,89.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saQWMr1_ushj4zYmNq-lCug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1456297,-104.7688657,3a,75y,176.31h,88.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sG4aLGodS4j_e35GKcrpV_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=September 4, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024509/https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1456297,-104.7688657,3a,75y,176.31h,88.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sG4aLGodS4j_e35GKcrpV_A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Wyoming]].

====American Stores acquisition====
In 1998, Albertsons made its biggest acquisition yet: [[American Stores Company]], which included the chains [[Acme Markets|ACME]] in [[Pennsylvania]], [[New Jersey]], [[Maryland]], and [[Delaware]]; [[Lucky Stores|Lucky]] in [[California]] and [[Nevada]]; [[Jewel (supermarket)|Jewel]] and [[Jewel-Osco]] in [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]], and [[Iowa]]<!--removed Michigan, evidence shows J/O did have stores in Michigan but they closed prior to 1999-->, and two drug store chains: [[Osco Drug]], with a presence in [[New England]], the Midwest, [[Montana]] and [[Arizona]]; and [[Sav-on Drugs]], with a presence in [[Southern California]], Nevada, Western Arizona, and [[New Mexico]]. The acquisition briefly made Albertsons the largest American food and drug operator, with over 2,500 stores (including stand-alone drug stores) in 37 states, until [[Kroger]]'s acquisition of [[Fred Meyer]] closed the following month.  To make the acquisition, Albertsons was forced by anti-trust concerns to divest 146 stores, primarily in California, Nevada, and New Mexico, to Certified Grocers: [[Raley's]], [[Ralphs]], [[Stater Bros.]], and [[Vons]]. In California, Nevada, and New Mexico, there were already Albertsons stores, so in order to not have two banners in the same area, 508 Lucky stores were converted to the Albertsons banner in November 1999, and the Lucky brand name was retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/albertsons-lucky-wed-508-banners-are-changed|title=ALBERTSON'S, LUCKY 'WED'; 508 BANNERS ARE CHANGED|date=November 8, 1999|work=supermarketnews.com|access-date=April 9, 2021|archive-date=March 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317024915/https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/albertsons-lucky-wed-508-banners-are-changed|url-status=live}}</ref> The brand was reintroduced in the early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carroll |first1=Paul B. |title=Billion Dollar Lessons: What You Can Learn from the Most Inexcusable Business Failures of the Last 25 Ye ars |last2=Mui |first2=Chunka |publisher=Penguin |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59184-219-4 |location=New York, NY |pages=184 |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2001, Albertsons restructured its "districts" to a divisional structure mostly based around distribution centers, with a drug store division and 18 regional division offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/albertsons-switching-divisional-structure|title=ALBERTSON'S SWITCHING TO DIVISIONAL STRUCTURE|date=January 22, 2001|work=supermarketnews.com|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053548/http://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/albertsons-switching-divisional-structure|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2001–2004 restructuring===
On July 18, 2001, Larry Johnston, the new chairman and CEO of Albertson's, announced it would close 165 "underperforming" stores spread across 25 states, cut jobs, and reduce its newly created operating divisions. The first change was that the Utah, Idaho, and Big Sky (Montana) division were merged back into Intermountain, while Oregon, Washington, and the Inland Empire (eastern Washington and Northern Idaho) division would be consolidated back into a single Northwestern division. Albertsons sold its freestanding Osco Drug stores in the northeastern states to [[Jean Coutu Group]], a [[Canada|Canadian]] drug store company (those stores were re-branded as [[Brooks Pharmacy]] after the sale was completed in January 2002). In 2001,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/878393/Albertsons-plans-to-sell-80-New-England-drugstores.html?pg=all|title=Albertson's plans to sell 80 New England drugstores|date=December 7, 2001|work=[[Deseret News]]|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225453/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/878393/Albertsons-plans-to-sell-80-New-England-drugstores.html?pg=all|url-status=dead}}</ref> the short-lived Des Moines stores would close as well<ref>"Albertson's plans to close all 3 metro-area groceries"
''Des Moines Register'' – Des Moines, Iowa
Subjects: Business closings
Author: Bergstrom, Kathy
Date: October 3, 2001
Start Page: D.1
Section: BUSINESS
Abstract (Document Summary)
The Des Moines area stores closing are at 100 Army Post Road and 3400 E. 33rd St. and in Urbandale at 3799 86th St. Albertson's said it would seek a buyer for the locations of the stores, the firm's only supermarkets in Iowa.</ref> and Albertsons began to issue Albertsons Preferred Savings Cards for all of its stores.

The following year, three more divisions were closed entirely:

* '''San Antonio''': Having been in San Antonio since the Skaggs Albertsons days, at the time Albertsons was ranked as the area's number two grocer by market share, compared to [[H-E-B]]'s top position in the market. At the time of the withdrawal, the 44-store H-E-B chain held a commanding 61 percent market share, while Albertsons held a 15 percent market share. Albertsons had held the third position at the time Kroger exited the market in mid-1993 when it closed its 15 area stores. Then, H-E-B's 37 area stores held a 43.2 percent market share, Kroger's 15 area stores a 13.7 percent share, and Albertsons's 10 stores a 13.1 percent share. The remaining stores in the San Antonio division, primarily in the [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] area, became part of the Dallas division.<ref name=memphisbiz>{{cite news|last1=Milligan|first1=Tara|title=Albertson's saying good-bye to Memphis; closing, selling Seessel's stores|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2002/03/11/daily27.html|newspaper=Memphis Business Journal|access-date=June 12, 2016|date=March 13, 2002|archive-date=June 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624213619/http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2002/03/11/daily27.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The last store in South Texas to close, a store in [[Victoria, Texas]], was closed in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=20021002&id=6BdZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eEYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4818,153269&hl=en|title=The Victoria Advocate - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720072239/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=20021002&id=6BdZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eEYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4818,153269&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Mid-South''': In 2002, Albertsons shuttered its Mid-South division by selling its Seessel's supermarket chain in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] to [[Schnucks]] and stores in [[Mississippi]] to [[Brookshire's]]. The Albertsons-branded stores in the Nashville area, most of which had previously been Bruno's stores under the Foodmax banner, were sold to either [[Publix]] (marking its entry into the market) or Kroger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2002/07/01/story3.html|title=Publix: Grocer's buying spree not over in Middle Tennessee|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331030628/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2002/07/01/story3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Houston''': After entering the market in the early 1990s, the troubled Houston division would be gone too, with Albertsons closing its 43 area stores, with most reopening as Kroger or [[Randalls]] (acquired with Safeway in 2015 and subsequent return to Houston), with 2 of them becoming [[H-E-B]] stores. The Louisiana stores from that division joined the Florida division (though they would move to the Dallas division soon after), while the stores in the [[Bryan–College Station]] area became part of the Dallas division.<ref name=memphisbiz/> The [[Greater Houston]] distribution center near [[Katy, Texas|Katy]], built in 1996<ref name="fundinguniverse.com"/> was sold to [[99 Cents Only Stores]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressivegrocer.com/departments/nonfoods/99-cents-only-stores-open-texas?nopaging=1|title=99 Cents Only Stores Open in Texas – ''Progressive Grocer''|website=Progressivegrocer.com|date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053619/http://www.progressivegrocer.com/departments/nonfoods/99-cents-only-stores-open-texas?nopaging=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

Additionally, the distribution center in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], (home of the Great Plains division) was sold to [[Fleming Companies]], though no stores were closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/fleming-buys-albertson-s-facility/article_0582aae0-9b25-5aa1-b813-669f00160de9.html|title=Fleming buys Albertson's facility|work=tulsaworld.com|date=March 20, 2002 |access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726204944/https://tulsaworld.com/archives/fleming-buys-albertson-s-facility/article_0582aae0-9b25-5aa1-b813-669f00160de9.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Great Plains division stretched all the way into [[Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/albertsons-inc-introduces-two-stores-under-one-roof-in-omaha-76057547.html|title=Albertson's, Inc. Introduces Two Stores Under One Roof in Omaha|website=Prnewswire.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225749/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/albertsons-inc-introduces-two-stores-under-one-roof-in-omaha-76057547.html|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The sale of the distribution center included a distribution deal for Fleming to continue to supply Oklahoma and Omaha.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fleming-strikes-major-supply-agreement-with-albertsons-76531232.html|title=Fleming Strikes Major Supply Agreement with Albertson's|website=Prnewswire.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225740/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fleming-strikes-major-supply-agreement-with-albertsons-76531232.html|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After stabilizing the company's finances and consolidating divisions in 2004, Albertsons acquired [[Shaw's Supermarkets]] and [[Star Market]] from [[Sainsbury's]] for $2.5 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/27/business/albertsons-buying-shaw-s-new-england-grocery-chain.html|title=Albertsons Buying Shaw's, New England Grocery Chain|first=Constance L.|last=Hays|date=March 27, 2004|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095907/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/27/business/albertsons-buying-shaw-s-new-england-grocery-chain.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Albertsons also purchased [[Bristol Farms]] for $135 million.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fixmer|first1=Andy|title=Albertson's Plans Upscale Push With Bristol Farms Expansion|url=http://www.greifco.com/articles/lg-labj-121304.pdf|website=Greif & Co.|publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal|access-date=June 12, 2016|date=December 13, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011062818/http://www.greifco.com/articles/lg-labj-121304.pdf|archive-date=October 11, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> During the same time, Albertsons exited the markets of Omaha,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/business/company-news-albertson-s-to-exit-omaha-shedding-21-stores.html|title=ALBERTSON'S TO EXIT OMAHA, SHEDDING 21 STORES|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 18, 2004|last1=((News))|first1=Bloomberg|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140123/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/business/company-news-albertson-s-to-exit-omaha-shedding-21-stores.html|url-status=live}}</ref> where it closed or sold 21 stores, and [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]], where it closed seven, selling four to [[A&P]], which converted them to Sav-A-Center.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/17/business/company-news-albertsons-to-close-all-of-its-stores-in-new-orleans.html|title=ALBERTSONS TO CLOSE ALL OF ITS STORES IN NEW ORLEANS|date=April 17, 2004|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095957/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/17/business/company-news-albertsons-to-close-all-of-its-stores-in-new-orleans.html|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Albertsons 4.JPG|thumb|A typical Albertsons in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], [[Idaho]], in June 2007 (Store #162)]]

===Sale to Cerberus and SuperValu===

Despite this, the acquisition spree had caused significant problems for Albertsons, Inc. Many of the acquired chains had systems that did not mesh well with Albertsons. Financing those acquisitions required Albertsons Inc. to take on significant debt.  Added to those problems were significant changes in consumer buying patterns, including new competition from large discounters such as [[Walmart]] and [[Costco]] that impacted sales.

After several assessments of the company and months of rumors, it was announced on January 23, 2006, Albertsons, Inc. was to be sold to a consortium of companies. [[SuperValu (United States)|SuperValu]] would take the bulk of the company including the brand names and what was considered to be the stronger divisions, including 3 Albertsons divisions: the Southern California division (Southern California; Southern Nevada; along with stores in Hanford and Tulare, in Northern California), the Northwest division (Oregon except Ontario, Washington State, and the Idaho Panhandle), and the Intermountain division (Southern Idaho; Elko, Nevada; Utah; Jackson and Rock Springs, Wyoming; Montana; Ontario, Oregon; and North Dakota) as well as the [[Acme Markets|ACME]], [[Bristol Farms]], Jewel-Osco, and Shaw's Supermarkets and Star Market brands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/95521/000119312506009695/dex991.htm|title=News Release dated January 23, 2006|website=Sec.gov|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312073959/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/95521/000119312506009695/dex991.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> This acquisition would also lead to SuperValu gaining access to over 100 Albertsons Express fuel centers.<ref name=":1"/>

[[CVS Health|CVS]] would acquire 702 stand-alone Osco and Sav-on Drug stores and converted them to [[CVS Pharmacy]] stores. They also closed about 100 of the 702.

What was left of Albertsons Inc. became Albertsons, LLC,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/95521/000119312506126085/d8k.htm|title=Current Report|website=Sec.gov|access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312201831/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/95521/000119312506126085/d8k.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> purchased by a [[Cerberus Capital Management|Cerberus]]-led group of investors, and [[CVS Pharmacy]]. The acquisition was completed on June 2, 2006, with the Cerberus-led group (who also included [[Kimco Realty Corporation]], [[Schottenstein Stores Corp.]], Lubert-Adler Partners, and Klaff Realty). They held Albertsons LLC as "AB Acquisition LLC". Albertsons LLC included 661 stores and the distribution centers and offices from five of Albertsons divisions. These five divisions were thought to be Albertsons' five weakest divisions, and conventional wisdom in the industry was that the stores would eventually be closed or sold to other operators.

As of June 2, 2006, the company's retail stores were divided as follows:
* SuperValu had acquired 1,124 stores in the deal, including:
** ACME (134 locations)
** ACME Express, Jewel Express, and Albertsons Express (107 fuel centers)
** Albertsons (564 locations in Southern California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) – New Albertsons Inc. (later sold to Albertsons LLC)<ref>{{cite web|title=Traditions & History|url=http://www.albertsons.com/our-company/traditions-history/|publisher=Albertsons|access-date=October 4, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092517/http://www.albertsons.com/our-company/traditions-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Bristol Farms (11 locations)
** Jewel and Jewel-Osco (198 locations)
** Lazy Acres (1 location)
** Max Foods (4 locations) (3 converted into [[Lucky Stores|Lucky]], 1 became Albertsons in July 2006)
** Osco Pharmacy and Sav-on Pharmacy (906 in-store pharmacies)
** Save-A-Lot (2 stores franchised by Shaw's)
** Shaw's (169 locations)
** Star Market (20 locations)
** Distribution centers (11 centers)
* CVS acquired all (approximately 702) of the stand-alone Osco Drug and Sav-on Drugs rebranding them all as CVS Pharmacy, though they closed approximately 100 of the acquired stores. Many CVS locations were close to Sav-on stores. CVS also acquired one distribution center.
* The Cerberus-led Albertsons LLC retained:
** Albertsons (655 locations in Arizona, Northern California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming – Albertsons LLC)
** County Line Liquors (1 location)
** Grocery Warehouse (1 location)
** Jewel-Osco (2 locations)
** Max Foods (2 locations)
** Super Saver Foods (23 locations, 21 closed in late 2006)

Following the sale, Albertson's, Inc., was removed from the [[New York Stock Exchange|NYSE]]. Albertsons LLC was technically the successor company to Albertsons according to SEC filings<ref>{{cite web|title=Markit RED Notification: Albertson's Inc|url=https://www.markit.com/news/Albertsons.pdf|publisher=markit|date=June 12, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2015|archive-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418050206/https://www.markit.com/news/Albertsons.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> but it was New Albertsons Inc. that assumed most of the debt, got most of the property, and transitioned Albertsons stock into SuperValu stock.

The five Albertsons Inc. divisions that remained as Albertsons LLC were the Dallas/Fort Worth division (Texas excluding El Paso, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas), the Rocky Mountain division (Colorado, Wyoming excluding Rock Springs and Jackson stores, Nebraska, and South Dakota), the Southwest division (Arizona, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas), the Florida division (Florida), and the Northern California division (northern California excluding Hanford and Tulare stores, and northern Nevada). Albertsons LLC then concentrated on rebuilding market share and its store base in its stronger areas and divesting stores and other property in its weaker areas.

On June 6, 2006, only one week after Albertsons LLC was created, the company announced its intent to close 100 Albertsons stores by August 2006, including all but two Super Saver stores.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150904052951/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060608/ai_n16483143?tag=rel.res1 Albertsons to close 100 of its stores] ''Deseret News'' (Salt Lake City), June 8, 2006.</ref> Those closures were spread across all five divisions. Soon after, the company announced that it would be shutting down its online delivery service on July 21, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=2006-07-14 |title=Albertsons LLC to Close Its Online Grocery Business |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-14-fi-albert14-story.html |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> To distinguish the two companies, Albertsons LLC created a second website, ''AlbertsonsMarket.com''.

===A leaner company===
In November 2006, it was announced that the Northern California division, consisting of stores located in northern California and northern Nevada, would be sold to [[Save Mart]], with the deal closing in late February 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Colliver |first=Victoria |date=Nov 28, 2006 |title=Save Mart buys remaining Albertsons stores |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/save-mart-buys-remaining-albertsons-stores-2484122.php |url-status=live |access-date=May 8, 2025 |work=SFGATE}}</ref> The company gradually converted all the stores to its Save Mart banner over summer 2007, except for stores in the San Francisco Bay area, which were rebranded as Lucky.<ref name="savemart">[http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail/4441947-1.html Albertsons is sold in Northern California] ''AllBusiness'', November 28, 2006. {{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2007/07/18/lucky-return-save-mart-gambles-on-revival-of-storied-name/|title=Lucky return: Save Mart gambles on revival of storied name|date=July 18, 2007|work=Mercury News|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504054108/http://www.mercurynews.com/2007/07/18/lucky-return-save-mart-gambles-on-revival-of-storied-name/|url-status=live}}</ref> The deal included two Northern California distribution centers. Most of the Albertsons locations had originally been branded as Lucky before Albertson's 1998 purchase of [[American Stores]].<ref name=savemart/>

Most of the changes in the next six years would downscale the remaining divisions. In the Dallas–Fort Worth division, in 2007, the distribution center was sold and outsourced to [[Associated Wholesale Grocers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressivegrocer.com/albertsons-llc-exit-oklahoma-outsource-dfw-grocery-distribution?nopaging=1|title=Albertson's LLC to Exit Oklahoma, Outsource DFW Grocery Distribution|website=Progressivegrocer.com|date=June 20, 2007 |access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326142652/http://www.progressivegrocer.com/albertsons-llc-exit-oklahoma-outsource-dfw-grocery-distribution?nopaging=1|url-status=live}}</ref> and Albertsons would exit both Oklahoma<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/albertsons-leaving-oklahoma/article_613fa78d-bea9-5080-b088-1ad385c5e963.html|title=Albertsons leaving Oklahoma|website=Tulsaworld.com|date=June 20, 2007 |access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301053631/https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/albertsons-leaving-oklahoma/article_613fa78d-bea9-5080-b088-1ad385c5e963.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and Austin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/09/10/daily25.html|title=Story|date=September 10, 2007|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-06-23|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326231427/http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/09/10/daily25.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Oklahoma stores were sold to 
Associated Wholesale Grocers members while the Austin stores were sold to [[H-E-B]]. With the closures, only four stores south of the Dallas–Fort Worth area existed in Texas, all of which were closed or sold by December 2011. Additionally, many of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex stores closed during this time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/retail/stories/013007dnbusalbertsons.2f9dd831.html|title=Albertsons to close 6 D-FW stores|date=September 30, 2007|website=Dallasnews.com|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014915/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/retail/stories/013007dnbusalbertsons.2f9dd831.html|archive-date=September 30, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> even into 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2011/01/14/albertsons-to-close-5-stores-in-dallas-fort-worth|title=Albertsons to close 5 stores in Dallas–Fort Worth|date=January 14, 2011|work=Dallas News|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326230201/http://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2011/01/14/albertsons-to-close-5-stores-in-dallas-fort-worth|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:Albertsons Dallas.JPG|thumb|left|A typical Albertsons-Savon store in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], in October 2005 (Store #4297). This store was later sold as part of FTC-ordered divestment, and later became Minyard Sun Fresh Market, but has since closed.]]

The Florida division, which was always discontiguous with Albertsons' main market, suffered a blow in June 2008 when Albertsons LLC entered into an agreement with [[Lakeland, Florida]]-based [[Publix]] stores to sell 49 Florida Albertsons locations to the chain. This included 15 stores in Northern and Northwest Florida, 30 locations in Central Florida, and four locations in South Florida. The sale was completed in September.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/company-structures-ownership/11407428-1.html Publix buying 49 Albertsons Stores], ''AllBusiness'', June 9, 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501060330/http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/company-structures-ownership/11407428-1.html |date=May 1, 2010 }}</ref> In April 2012, the company closed most of its stores in Florida.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theledger.com/news/20120411/albertsons-closing-most-florida-stores-plant-city-distribution-center | title=Albertsons Closing Most Florida Stores, Plant City Distribution Center | first=Kyle | last=Kennedy | work=[[The Ledger]] | date=April 11, 2012 | access-date=February 5, 2019 | archive-date=February 7, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015153/https://www.theledger.com/news/20120411/albertsons-closing-most-florida-stores-plant-city-distribution-center | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2012/04/10/most-florida-albertsons-will-shutter/ | title=Most Florida Albertsons will shutter | first=Sandra | last=Pedicini | work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] | date=April 10, 2012 | access-date=March 25, 2017 | archive-date=March 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140045/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-10/business/os-albertsons-closing-20120410_1_albertsons-llc-florida-stores-liquidation-sale | url-status=live }}</ref> The Plant City distribution center was sold to [[Gordon Food Service]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tbo.com/local/communitynewsalbertsons-sells-distribution-center-57536|title=Albertsons sells distribution center|date=January 9, 2010|website=Tbo.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135557/http://www.tbo.com/local/communitynewsalbertsons-sells-distribution-center-57536|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> though the Florida Division continued to be located there. By April 2012, only four stores remained in the entire state of Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-10/business/os-albertsons-closing-20120410_1_albertsons-llc-florida-stores-liquidation-sale|title=Albertsons closing most Florida stores|website=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326140045/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-10/business/os-albertsons-closing-20120410_1_albertsons-llc-florida-stores-liquidation-sale|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Rocky Mountain division slowly shed stores.<ref>[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_5293014,00.html Albertsons to close nine stores], ''Rocky Mountain News'', January 20, 2007.  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210021/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23916_5293014%2C00.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/08/24/daily27.html Albertsons closing 5 Denver-area stores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025094502/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/08/24/daily27.html |date=October 25, 2012 }}, ''Denver Business Journal'', August 25, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Albertsons to close more Denver-area stores |url=http://archive.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=130393 |work=9News |date=January 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416165236/http://archive.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=130393 |archive-date=April 16, 2015 }}</ref> By April 2007, there were only 32 stores left in the state of Colorado.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2007/01/19/albertsons-closing-9-stores-in-state/|title=Albertsons closing 9 stores in state|date=January 19, 2007|website=Denverpost.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135606/http://www.denverpost.com/2007/01/19/albertsons-closing-9-stores-in-state/|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2007, SuperValu acquired the eight remaining Wyoming locations from Albertson's LLC not already owned by the company. These stores continued to operate under the Albertsons banner.<ref>[http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_0d7be134-e320-51ea-b103-825b6906dd62.html Supervalu will acquire Albertsons stores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026085139/http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_0d7be134-e320-51ea-b103-825b6906dd62.html |date=October 26, 2014 }}, ''The Casper Star Tribune'', December 20, 2007.</ref> 2008 also brought the sale of Albertsons' lone South Dakota and Nebraska stores to [[Nash Finch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/article_757bb1b3-9d3a-57a3-8194-c40bbb6fe1b1.html|title=Nash Finch to buy Rapid City Albertsons|website=Rapidcityjournal.com|date=February 15, 2008 |access-date=July 3, 2013|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923050845/http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/article_757bb1b3-9d3a-57a3-8194-c40bbb6fe1b1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2009, the distribution center and division office closed and the 26 remaining stores moved to the Southwest division.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2009/08/25/albertsons-to-shut-5-colorado-stores/|title=Albertsons to shut 5 Colorado stores|date=August 25, 2009|work=Denver Post|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135801/http://www.denverpost.com/2009/08/25/albertsons-to-shut-5-colorado-stores/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Only the Southwest division was spared the major cuts suffered by the other divisions. On June 12, 2007, Albertsons LLC agreed to acquire all [[Raley's]] locations in New Mexico. The acquisition includes one closed and eight operating stores in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] and one store in [[Taos, New Mexico|Taos]], thus doubling Albertsons store base in the Albuquerque metro.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-12-2007/0004607088&EDATE= Albertson's LLC to Acquire Raley's New Mexico Stores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929142539/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F06-12-2007%2F0004607088&EDATE= |date=September 29, 2007 }}, ''PR Newswire'', June 13, 2007.</ref>

In June 2007, Albertson's LLC decided to discontinue its Preferred Savings Card Program, choosing instead to offer discounted items to all of its customers.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120722234213/http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0620biz-albertsons0620.html Albertsons to discontinue loyalty cards today], ''The Arizona Republic'', June 20, 2007.</ref> In September 2007, all Albertsons stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and Florida markets began collecting their Albertsons Preferred Savings Cards.<ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/retail/stories/092707dnbusalbertsonscard.11053c3a4.html Albertsons's ditches loyalty cards], ''Dallas Morning News'', September 27, 2007. {{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
[[File:MidCityAlbertsonsDavisOct08Gaspumps.jpg|thumb|An Albertsons Express that closed due to [[Hurricane Katrina]], located in [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]]]

==== End of the first generation of Albertsons Express ====
Beginning in 2008, Albertsons began exiting the fuel business, selling 72 of over one hundred Albertsons Express gas stations to [[Valero Energy]], which converted most of them to [[Corner Store]] locations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cspdailynews.com/fuels-news-prices-analysis/fuels-news/articles/valero-buy-albertsons-c-stores|title=Valero to Buy Albertson's C-Stores|website=Cspdailynewsd.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135917/http://www.cspdailynews.com/fuels-news-prices-analysis/fuels-news/articles/valero-buy-albertsons-c-stores|url-status=live}}</ref> This wouldn't be the end though, as many Express stores still remained including Cheyenne, WY.<ref name=":1" /> It wouldn't be until 2011-2013 that most of the Albertsons Express locations were divested under the Supervalu company. Even then, some locations including Hillsboro still displayed Albertsons Express banners.<ref name=":0" />

===New Albertsons acquisition===
While Albertsons LLC had restored its stores to profitability, SuperValu's New Albertsons Inc. had done poorly. While SuperValu did remodel many stores and open a few new stores, New Albertsons had shrunk. Of the 1100+ stores SuperValu acquired in 2006, fewer than 900 remained by 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/supervalu-sells-877-stores-reuniting-albertsons-under-one-operator|title=Supervalu sells 877 stores, reuniting Albertsons under one operator|website=Drugstorenews.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326231715/http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/supervalu-sells-877-stores-reuniting-albertsons-under-one-operator|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under SuperValu, [[Bristol Farms]] had been sold off,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-oct-29-la-fi-bristol-farms-20101029-story.html|title=Bristol Farms markets sold|first=P. J.|last=Huffstutter|date=October 29, 2010|website=Articles.latimes.com|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927055652/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/29/business/la-fi-bristol-farms-20101029|url-status=live}}</ref> 36 Utah stores were sold to [[Associated Food Stores]] (leaving just three traditional Albertsons stores in the state),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705319690/Associated-Foods-to-buy-36-Albertsons-stores-in-Utah.html|title=Associated Foods to buy 36 Albertsons stores in Utah|first=Laura|last=Hancock|date=July 29, 2009|website=Deseretnews.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225550/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705319690/Associated-Foods-to-buy-36-Albertsons-stores-in-Utah.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albertsons.com/pd/stores/UT|title=Albertsons stores in Utah|website=Albertsons|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320075554/http://www.albertsons.com/pd/stores/UT|archive-date=March 20, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> the Wisconsin [[Jewel-Osco]] stores had been sold or closed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/01/22/daily25.html|title=Jewel-Osco store closures to begin March 23|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326231438/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/01/22/daily25.html|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the [[Shaw's]] stores in Connecticut.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100212005762/en/SUPERVALU-Announces-Sale-Connecticut-Shaw%E2%80%99s-Stores|title=SUPERVALU Announces Sale of Connecticut Shaw's Stores|website=Businesswire.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326135936/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100212005762/en/SUPERVALU-Announces-Sale-Connecticut-Shaw%E2%80%99s-Stores|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, like Albertsons LLC, most of the fuel stations had been shuttered or sold to other operators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/09/07/supervalu-sells-most-of-its-gas-stations.html|title=Supervalu sells most of its gas stations|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225911/http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/09/07/supervalu-sells-most-of-its-gas-stations.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 10, 2013, it was announced<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supervaluinvestors.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=93272&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1773238&highlight=|title=SUPERVALU Announces Definitive Agreement for Sale of Five Retail Grocery Banners to Cerberus-Led Investor Group|publisher=Supervalu|date=January 9, 2013|access-date=January 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904052951/http://www.supervaluinvestors.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=93272&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1773238&highlight=|archive-date=September 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> that SuperValu was selling New Albertsons (Albertsons, ACME, Shaw's/Star Market, and Jewel-Osco, though they had previously sold off Bristol Farms in 2010) to [[Cerberus Capital Management]]. The deal was closed in March 2013.<ref name="sec.gov"/> On February 23, 2013, AB Acquisition announced it would split operations of the newly combined company into eight divisions: Northwestern, Intermountain, Southern California, Southern, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Shaw's, and Southwestern, and in March 2013, the deal was officially closed. On paper, Albertsons LLC controlled the Albertsons-branded stores and New Albertsons Inc. controlled ACME, Shaw's/Star Market, and Jewel-Osco, but it was operated as one company.

On June 11, 2013, Albertsons announced its plans to merge its duplicate websites, social media accounts and mobile apps onto one of each kind, ending the use of the Albertsons Market branding (though this was never used on store exteriors) and AlbertsonsMarket.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.albertsons.com/2013/06/big-changes/ |title=Big Changes are Coming! |publisher=Albertsons |url-status=dead |access-date=June 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629045313/http://www.albertsons.com/2013/06/big-changes/ |archive-date=June 29, 2013 }}</ref> While its website consolidation appeared to take place as expected, its applications received bad reviews<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/albertsonsmkt/id542751329 |title=AlbertsonsMkt for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store |website=[[iTunes]] |access-date=June 26, 2013 |archive-date=April 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427230338/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/albertsonsmkt/id542751329?mt=8 |url-status=live }}</ref>—but the biggest consequence was the mistaken deletion of their previous Facebook page and loss of over 200,000 fans. While no details were given as to the mistake made, Albertsons simply admitted that while attempting to join their Albertsons page with over 200,000 Likes and their Albertsons Market page with over 80,000 Likes, something went wrong resulting in the loss of thousands of Likes and comments.

That same month, Albertsons did away with the Preferred Savings Card in the former SuperValu stores that Albertsons LLC had dispensed with in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albertsons.com/2013/06/card-free-savings/ |title=Albertsons Card Free Savings |publisher=Albertsons |date=June 2013 |access-date=March 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829054551/http://www.albertsons.com/2013/06/card-free-savings/ |archive-date=August 29, 2013 }}</ref> The cards briefly continued in Southern California stores before being discontinued in July 2013.

===United Supermarkets acquisition===
On September 9, 2013, the company acquired [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]-based supermarket [[United Supermarkets|United Supermarkets LLC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albertsons.com/2013/09/albertsons-llc-to-acquire-united-supermarkets-llc |title=Albertson's LLC to Acquire United Supermarkets LLC |publisher=Albertson's LLC |date=September 9, 2013 |access-date=February 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201170653/http://www.albertsons.com/2013/09/albertsons-llc-to-acquire-united-supermarkets-llc/ |archive-date=December 1, 2013 }}</ref> On February 4, 2014, the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] voted 4–0 to approve the deal. The acquisition deal cost Albertsons $385 million and required Albertsons to sell its single stores in the [[Amarillo, Texas]], and [[Wichita Falls, Texas]], markets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2014-02-04/ftc-gives-final-approval-united-albertsons-merger|title=FTC gives final approval for United-Albertsons merger|newspaper=Amarillo Globe-News|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=February 13, 2014|archive-date=February 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227155740/http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2014-02-04/ftc-gives-final-approval-united-albertsons-merger|url-status=live}}</ref> The United Supermarkets family brands include Market Street, Amigos, and United Express.<ref name="The United Family">{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedtexas.com/our-company/our-stores|title=Serving Texans in the Texas tradition|publisher=United Texas, LLC|access-date=February 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209014251/http://unitedtexas.com/our-company/our-stores|archive-date=February 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the deal was finalized, the Albertsons Market brand was revived for Albertsons stores operated by United. The first to be branded as such opened in [[Alamogordo, New Mexico]], in January 2015.

===Safeway acquisition===
On February 19, 2014, [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]] began to explore selling itself, and by February 21, 2014, it was in advanced negotiations with [[Cerberus Capital Management]].<ref name=Reuters>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/safeway-cerberus-idUSL2N0LP2UJ20140221|title=Cerberus in advanced talks to buy Safeway|work=[[Reuters]]|date=February 21, 2014|access-date=February 21, 2014|archive-date=February 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228163125/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/safeway-cerberus-idUSL2N0LP2UJ20140221|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 6, 2014, Cerberus (parent company of Albertsons) announced it would purchase Safeway for $9.4 billion in a deal expected to close in the 4th quarter of the year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Albertsons Owner to Buy Safeway for More than $9 Billion|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/albertsons-owner-buy-safeway-more-9-billion-n46416|work=NBC News|date=March 6, 2014|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318005059/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/albertsons-owner-buy-safeway-more-9-billion-n46416|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 25, 2014, Safeway stockholders approved the merger with Albertsons.<ref name="merger" />

In December 2014, Albertsons announced that the [[Haggen Food & Pharmacy|Haggen Company]], a Bellingham, Washington, based grocery chain, was buying 146 Safeway, Albertsons and Vons stores, as required by the antitrust review of the merger.<ref>{{cite news|title=Washington-based Haggen grocery chain buying 146 Albertson, Safeway stores in the West|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2014/12/20/washington-based-haggen-grocery-chain-buying-146-albertson-safeway-stores-in/|work=[[Fox Business Network]]|date=December 20, 2014|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326071540/http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2014/12/20/washington-based-haggen-grocery-chain-buying-146-albertson-safeway-stores-in/|archive-date=March 26, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On January 30, 2015, Albertsons officially acquired Safeway Inc. after being cleared by the FTC,<ref name=donedeal>{{cite news|first=Maria|last=Halkias|title=It's a done deal: Albertsons and Safeway merger is complete|url=http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/its-a-done-deal-albertsons-and-safeway-merger-is-complete.html|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131092052/http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/its-a-done-deal-albertsons-and-safeway-merger-is-complete.html/|archive-date=January 31, 2015 }}</ref> thus giving it control of the Safeway store banners, including [[Randalls]], [[Tom Thumb (grocery store)|Tom Thumb]], [[Carrs Safeway]], [[Vons]], and [[Pavilions (supermarket)|Pavilions]], plus Safeway's 49% share of [[Casa Ley]], a [[Mexico|Mexican]] grocery chain.<ref>{{cite news|title=Safeway earnings may drop / Grocery chain blames slow sales, health costs|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/11/09/BU218934.DTL/|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 9, 2002}}</ref> Following the merger, Albertsons announced the new company would have 14 divisions led by three regional offices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albertsons and Safeway Name Senior Leadership Team for Appointment Upon Completion of Proposed Merger|url=http://www.albertsons.com/albertsons-and-safeway-name-senior-leadership-team-for-appointment-upon-completion-of-proposed-merger/|publisher=Albertsons LLC|date=September 19, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2015|archive-date=April 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413024107/http://www.albertsons.com/albertsons-and-safeway-name-senior-leadership-team-for-appointment-upon-completion-of-proposed-merger/|url-status=live}}</ref>

;East Region
*[[Acme Markets|Acme Division]]: East Region, existing Acme Markets (based in [[Malvern, Pennsylvania|Malvern, PA]]).
*Eastern Division: East Region, existing Eastern Division of Safeway (based in [[Lanham, Maryland|Lanham, MD]]). Includes stores in Maryland and Virginia.
*[[Jewel-Osco|Jewel-Osco Division]]: East Region, existing Jewel-Osco (based in [[Itasca, Illinois|Itasca, IL]]).
*[[Shaw's|Shaw's Division]]: East Region, existing Shaw's/Star Market (based in [[West Bridgewater, Massachusetts|West Bridgewater, MA]]).
;North Region
*Denver Division: North Region, existing Safeway Denver division with some Albertsons stores from Intermountain.  Includes stores in most of Colorado (except for the [[Grand Junction, Colorado|Grand Junction]] stores which are part of Intermountain, and the [[Durango, Colorado|Durango]] stores which are part of Southwest), the eastern two-thirds of Wyoming, all of Nebraska and South Dakota, and [[Farmington, New Mexico]].
*Intermountain Division: North Region, most of the existing Albertsons division with some Safeway stores from the Seattle Division.  Includes all stores in North Dakota, most of Idaho except for the northern panhandle (which is part of the Seattle Division), most of Utah except for the far southern portion (which is part of the Southwest Division), northeastern Nevada, the western third of Wyoming, and stores in the Grand Junction, Colorado area.
*Northern California Division: North Region, existing Safeway division (based in [[Pleasanton, California]]). Includes stores in northern California and northwestern Nevada.
*Portland Division: North Region, existing Safeway Portland division with Albertsons stores from Northwestern in Oregon. Includes the entire state of Oregon except for [[Ontario, Oregon|Ontario]], plus [[Clark County, Washington]].
*Seattle Division: North Region, existing Safeway division with some Albertsons stores from Northwestern. Includes all stores in the state of Washington (except Clark County) and in the northern Idaho Panhandle.
[[File:Weatherford May 2017 42 (Albertsons).jpg|thumb|Albertsons in [[Weatherford, Texas]] in May 2017 (Store #4176)]]
;South Region
*Houston Division: South Region, existing [[Randalls]]/Tom Thumb division of Safeway, with the inclusion of South's Florida stores and southern Louisiana stores. Tom Thumb moved to Southern Division.  Includes stores in Houston and Austin-areas and all Louisiana and Florida stores.
*Southern Division: South Region, existing Albertsons South division (based in [[Fort Worth, Texas]]) combined with [[Tom Thumb (grocery store)|Tom Thumb]] stores.  Includes stores in northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, and all of Arkansas. 
*Southern California Division: South Region, merged Vons Safeway division (excluding southern Nevada/Las Vegas stores, which became part of the new Southwest Division) with Albertsons division (based in [[Fullerton, California]]).  Includes stores in southern California.
*Southwest Division: South Region, merged Southwest Safeway and Albertsons divisions (based in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]).  Includes all stores in Arizona, southern Nevada, and Utah, most of New Mexico (except for Farmington which is part of the Denver Division and southeastern New Mexico which is part of the United Division), and [[El Paso, Texas]].
*[[United Supermarkets|United Division]]: South Region, existing United division (based in Lubbock). Includes stores in the Texas Panhandle and western Texas (excluding El Paso, which is part of the Southwest Division), and southeastern New Mexico.

===Announcement and postponement of going public and A&P acquisition===
After several months of rumors, the combined operation announced it would go public as Albertsons Companies, Inc. (the new name of AB Acquisition LLC). Albertsons attempted to IPO with the ticker ABS on October 14, 2015, planning to raise as much as $1.7 billion, selling 65.3 million shares with a range of $23 - $26 per share. However, the company postponed the listing due to market conditions, particularly after Wal-Mart warned of more challenged sales earlier that day. Albertsons has reportedly postponed the IPO indefinitely, as of October 2015.<ref name="albertsons.com"/> All during this time, Albertsons continued to expand, purchasing 70 stores owned by the bankrupt [[Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company]] (operating under the names of [[The Food Emporium]], A&P, A&P Fresh, [[Superfresh]], and [[Pathmark]]), which were quickly reopened as [[ACME Markets|ACME]] stores after two-day store resets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://producenews.com/news-dep-menu/test-featured/16930-acme-stop-shop-reduce-a-p-purchases|title=ACME, Stop & Shop reduce A&P purchases|website=Producenews.com|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053255/http://producenews.com/news-dep-menu/test-featured/16930-acme-stop-shop-reduce-a-p-purchases|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acmemarkets.com/2015/10/acme-getting-better-every-day/|title=ACME: Getting Better Every Day!|website=Acme|access-date=December 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923051003/http://www.acmemarkets.com/2015/10/acme-getting-better-every-day/|archive-date=September 23, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Post-Safeway: Acquisitions, conversions, expansions, and selloffs===
As a result of the Albertsons-Safeway merger, Albertsons began to look to divest some stores in geographies where the merger could cause a high market share.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Ridley's Family Market buying Sheridan Safeway, three other Wyoming stores|url=https://www.thesheridanpress.com/news/local/ridley-s-family-market-buying-sheridan-safeway-three-other-wyoming-stores/article_0246e1a1-cbb4-5247-aed4-b46a9b79ecab.html|access-date=2021-09-04|website=The Sheridan Press|date=December 20, 2014 |language=en|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024508/https://www.thesheridanpress.com/news/local/ridley-s-family-market-buying-sheridan-safeway-three-other-wyoming-stores/article_0246e1a1-cbb4-5247-aed4-b46a9b79ecab.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of these stores including one Albertsons and three Safeway stores in Wyoming were sold off to [[Ridley's Family Markets]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Andrew Server|date=2015-03-27|title=Albertsons becomes Ridley's Family Market|url=https://www.uwbrandingiron.com/2015/03/27/albertsons-becomes-ridleys-family-market/|access-date=2021-09-04|language=en-US|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024510/https://www.uwbrandingiron.com/2015/03/27/albertsons-becomes-ridleys-family-market/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Former Albertsons and Haggen - Tigard, Oregon.JPG|thumb|An Albertsons that turned into [[Haggen (supermarket)|Haggen]] before shuttering in [[Tigard, Oregon|Tigard]], [[Oregon|OR]]]]
Also at the time of the Albertsons-Safeway merger, the 18-store Pacific Northwest chain Haggen purchased 146 West Coast Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons, and Safeway locations that had to be sold due to anti-trust concerns, paying $300 million, plus spending $100 million to rebrand the stores.  The FTC had hoped this would create a regional competitor for Albertsons.<ref name="Judge approves" />  On September 1, 2015, Haggen announced that the company had filed a lawsuit against Albertsons LLC and Albertsons Holdings LLC ("Albertsons") seeking more than $1 billion in damages.<ref name="sue-$1bil">{{Cite news | url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/haggen-sues-albertsons-for-1-billion-over-big-grocery-deal/ | title=Haggen sues Albertsons for $1 billion over big grocery deal | newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] | first=Ángel | last=González | date=September 1, 2015 | access-date=September 16, 2015 | archive-date=September 9, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909102546/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/haggen-sues-albertsons-for-1-billion-over-big-grocery-deal/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The complaint, which was filed that day in United States District Court for the District of Delaware, alleged that following Haggen's December 2014 purchase of 146 Albertsons and Safeway stores, Albertsons engaged in "coordinated and systematic efforts to eliminate competition and Haggen as a viable competitor in over 130 local grocery markets in five states", and "made false representations to both Haggen and the FTC about Albertsons's commitment to a seamless transformation of the stores into viable competitors under the Haggen banner".<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.haggen.com/press-releases/haggen-sues-albertsons/|title=Haggen Sues Albertsons for Damages|date=September 1, 2015|publisher=Haggen|access-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907030020/http://www.haggen.com/press-releases/haggen-sues-albertsons/|archive-date=September 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A week later Haggen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and began the process of closing all but a few dozen 'core' stores in the Pacific Northwest.<ref name=bankruptcy>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/struggling-haggen-files-for-bankruptcy-protection/|last=González|first=Ángel|date=September 9, 2015|title=Struggling Haggen files for bankruptcy protection, parts with Southwest co-CEO|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=September 10, 2015|archive-date=November 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101181241/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/struggling-haggen-files-for-bankruptcy-protection/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 11 Petition|url=http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/CFBGOYY/Haggen_Holdings_LLC__debke-15-11874__0001.0.pdf|website=PacerMonitor|date=September 8, 2015|access-date=November 16, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021540/http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/CFBGOYY/Haggen_Holdings_LLC__debke-15-11874__0001.0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>  Albertsons would buy back 33 of the stores being sold at auction.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article65105702.html | title=How would Albertsons swallow up Haggen? |newspaper=[[The Bellingham Herald]] | first=Dave|last=Gallagher | date=March 9, 2016 | access-date=January 17, 2017}}</ref>  In January 2016, Albertsons settled the lawsuit, agreeing to pay $5.75 million to Haggen, and subsequently reached an agreement to acquire the remaining 29 'core' Haggen stores located in Washington and Oregon for $106 million, the deal being approved on March 29, 2016.<ref name="Judge approves">{{cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/judge-approves-sale-of-haggen-to-albertsons/|title=Judge approves sale of Haggen to Albertsons|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=March 29, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-date=April 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402103806/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/judge-approves-sale-of-haggen-to-albertsons/|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the deal, 15 stores would still operate under the Haggen banner, with the rest converted to Albertsons locations.

During this time, the Albertsons family experienced further changes. On January 11, 2016, it was announced that the three remaining Albertsons stores in Florida, located in [[Largo, Florida|Largo]], [[Altamonte Springs, Florida|Altamonte Springs]] and [[Oakland Park, Florida|Oakland Park]], would be re-bannered as Safeway; this marked the first time that the Safeway brand would exist on a supermarket operation in Florida.<ref>{{cite news|title=Safeway store coming to Altamonte Springs|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2016/01/11/safeway-store-coming-to-altamonte-springs.html|access-date=January 23, 2016|publisher=Orlando Business Journal|date=January 11, 2016|archive-date=February 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206074115/http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2016/01/11/safeway-store-coming-to-altamonte-springs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It would also re-align the stores toward the Eastern Division. In 2016, smaller acquisitions included [[Homedale, Idaho]]-based Paul's Market and [[Santa Rosa, California]]-based G&G Supermarkets. Both brands were closed before they were converted into Albertsons and Safeway stores, respectively. Additionally, the [[United Supermarkets]] subsidiary acquired seven locations from [[Sweetwater, Texas]]-based Lawrence Brothers. These were converted into United Supermarkets or Albertsons Market stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/united-acquire-7-texas-new-mexico-stores |title=United to acquire 7 Texas, New Mexico stores |access-date=March 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053241/http://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/united-acquire-7-texas-new-mexico-stores |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In late 2016, it was announced that [[Andronico's]] in the San Francisco area would be acquired as well. These stores would become "Safeway Community Markets" and still hold what made Andronico's unique, including chef-prepared items. When the first store reopened in February 2017 under the ownership of the Northern California division, it was still bannered as Andronico's due to an issue in obtaining local permits but the other stores were able to reopen as Safeway Community Markets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/03/01/2-safeway-community-markets-formerly-andronicos-now-open-north-berkeley/|title=2 Safeway Community Markets, formerly Andronico's, now open in North Berkeley|date=March 1, 2017|website=Berkelyside.com|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312054406/http://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/03/01/2-safeway-community-markets-formerly-andronicos-now-open-north-berkeley/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 17, 2017, the Randalls store in south [[Katy, Texas]], serving the [[Cinco Ranch, Texas|Cinco Ranch]] area closed. On March 6, 2017, shortly after the Katy Randalls closure, it was announced that the [[Houston]]-[[Greater Houston|area]] distribution center near [[Cypress, Texas]], would be closed and the operations consolidated in the [[Roanoke, Texas]], Tom Thumb distribution center in the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] to supply the Houston- and Austin-area stores instead. Also, the Houston Division offices would be folded into the legacy Albertsons's South Division offices in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supermarketnews.com/marketing/albertsons-combining-2-texas-divisions|title=Albertsons combining 2 Texas divisions|date=March 9, 2017|website=Supermarketnews.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225931/http://www.supermarketnews.com/marketing/albertsons-combining-2-texas-divisions|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the stores in the Albuquerque market were realigned toward the United Supermarkets division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmidpi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/February-17-Newsletter.pdf|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170310172714/http://www.pmidpi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/February-17-Newsletter.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Presence News|date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2017|website=Archive.is}}</ref>
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<!--Additionally, rumors of purchasing Whole Foods Market and Strack & Van Til were removed, since they never happened. However, they could go on the [[Whole Foods Market]] and [[Jewel-Osco]] pages, respectively.-->
On September 20, 2017, Albertsons acquired meal kit company [[Plated (meal kits)|Plated]] for $200 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.albertsons.com/albertsons-companies-acquires-plated-to-transform-the-food-experience-for-consumers/|title=Albertsons Companies Acquires Plated to Transform the Food Experience for Consumers|date=September 20, 2017|website=Albertsons.com|access-date=December 18, 2017|archive-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214021836/http://www.albertsons.com/albertsons-companies-acquires-plated-to-transform-the-food-experience-for-consumers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the time after the Albertsons-Safeway merger, Albertsons was experimenting with different banners, converting many stores to Safeway, including many Colorado Albertsons locations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-08|title=9 Denver Albertsons stores converting to Safeway|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/9-denver-albertsons-stores-converting-safeway|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Supermarket News|language=en|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024517/https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/9-denver-albertsons-stores-converting-safeway|url-status=live}}</ref> With this rebranding also came additional closures, such as [[Centennial, Colorado]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2016/10/21/centennial-albertsons-store-to-close-in-november.html|title=Centennial Albertsons store to close as 8 convert to Safeways|access-date=2021-09-04|website=www.bizjournals.com|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510112058/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2016/10/21/centennial-albertsons-store-to-close-in-november.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some exceptions include [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]] and Durango in Colorado, which are owned by a different division.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Rich Laden|title=Three Albertsons stores in Colorado Springs to become Safeway groceries|url=https://gazette.com/business/three-albertsons-stores-in-colorado-springs-to-become-safeway-groceries/article_d42a0edd-1a6c-5926-bd2a-3ebee2ea5159.html|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Colorado Springs Gazette|date=July 11, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024506/https://gazette.com/business/three-albertsons-stores-in-colorado-springs-to-become-safeway-groceries/article_d42a0edd-1a6c-5926-bd2a-3ebee2ea5159.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Albertsons Express expansion ====
To start off 2018, Albertsons began to reenter the fuel market, opening a brand new Albertsons Express in Boise, ID at the site of a former Pizza Hut; this also introduced a new concept to the state of Idaho's gas stations, where the pumps are chip-credit-card enabled.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 2, 2018|first=Greg|last=Lindenberg|title=Albertsons Opens Reimagined C-Store and Fuel Center|url=https://cspdailynews.com/company-news/albertsons-opens-reimagined-c-store-fuel-center|access-date=2021-09-04|website=CSP Daily News|language=en|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024509/https://www.cspdailynews.com/company-news/albertsons-opens-reimagined-c-store-fuel-center|url-status=live}}</ref> At least one Albertsons Express from the original generation of Albertson's fuel centers located in Hillsboro, Oregon,<ref name=":0" /> remained open in the relaunch of Albertsons Express. As of September 2021, there are exactly seven Albertsons Express across America. They are located in Idaho with three sites; and in Louisiana, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas with one site each.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-04|title=7 Albertsons Express Locations {{!}} Gas Rewards, Diesel, Fuel|url=https://local.fuel.albertsons.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904005618/https://local.fuel.albertsons.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2021-09-04|access-date=2021-09-04}}</ref>

==== Additional acquisitions and closures ====
On February 20, 2018, Albertsons announced plans to acquire [[Rite Aid]], subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albertsons Companies and Rite Aid Merge to Create Food, Health, and Wellness Leader|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005785/en/Albertsons-Companies-Rite-Aid-Merge-Create-Food|website=BusinessWire|date=February 20, 2018|access-date=20 February 2018|language=en|archive-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220152937/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005785/en/Albertsons-Companies-Rite-Aid-Merge-Create-Food|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to retaining the stand-alone Rite Aid pharmacies, its [[Osco Drug and Sav-on Drugs|Osco and Sav-on]] pharmacies located in Albertsons's existing stores were expected to be replaced by Rite Aid pharmacies. On August 8, 2018, Rite Aid announced that the plan had failed to please shareholders and the proposed acquisition would be canceled.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/08/rite-aid-and-albertsons-agree-to-terminate-their-merger.html|title=Rite Aid and Albertsons agree to terminate their merger|last=Hirsch|first=Lauren|date=2018-08-08|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-08-09|archive-date=August 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809152939/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/08/rite-aid-and-albertsons-agree-to-terminate-their-merger.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

That same year, Albertsons closed several stores across multiple divisions, including all three Safeway stores in Florida. These stores were sold to [[Publix]] for an undisclosed price. With the closing, Albertsons officially exited the state, which it had been in since the late 1970s when they acquired their Skaggs Albertsons stores.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Publix Acquires Florida Safeway Stores {{!}} Newsroom|url=http://corporate.publix.com/about-publix/newsroom/news-releases/publix-acquires-florida-safeway-stores|website=Publix Super Markets|language=en-us|access-date=August 22, 2020|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725021226/https://corporate.publix.com/about-publix/newsroom/news-releases/publix-acquires-florida-safeway-stores|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the company divested its share in [[Casa Ley]], selling it to Tenedora CL del Noroeste.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-17|title=Albertsons sells Casa Ley stake, posts Q3 ID sales decline|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/albertsons-sells-casa-ley-stake-posts-q3-id-sales-decline|website=Supermarket News|language=en|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128021936/https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/albertsons-sells-casa-ley-stake-posts-q3-id-sales-decline|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Dangerous Duty.jpg|thumb|Checkouts at a Safeway during COVID-19]]
Also that year three new Lucky locations in Utah opened, two in West Valley City and Salt Lake City, replacing the last two Super Saver stores, and one in Tooele, replacing a former Albertsons store.
The next year, a location in [[West Jordan, Utah]], opened, replacing another Albertsons that closed in the late 2000s.

In 2019, Albertsons opened Albertsons Market Street in Meridian, Idaho, a [[flagship store]] located in a converted [[Shopko|ShopKo]] store and based on the Market Street brand of United Supermarkets. This became Albertsons's largest store at 110,000 square feet and featured a variety of departments exclusive to the store or found rarely in the chain, including an oyster bar, a full bar area, and in-house sausages.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Albertsons Market Street Store is a Food Paradise|url=https://progressivegrocer.com/albertsons-market-street-store-food-paradise|website=Progressive Grocer|date=April 15, 2019 |language=en|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128021704/https://progressivegrocer.com/albertsons-market-street-store-food-paradise|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, around the same time, a new [[Andronico's]] Community Markets opened in Monterey, California, the first new store to be branded as such.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-03|title=New Andronico's to open its doors next week; store will feature Starbucks|url=https://www.montereyherald.com/new-andronicos-to-open-its-doors-next-week-store-will-feature-starbucks|website=Monterey Herald|language=en-US|access-date=August 22, 2020|archive-date=April 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423000403/https://www.montereyherald.com/2019/01/03/new-andronicos-to-open-its-doors-next-week-store-will-feature-starbucks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, Albertsons announced the closing of a distribution center in [[Upper Marlboro, Maryland]], laying off up 520 people. Albertsons said its duties will be shifted to an existing distribution center in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], which will add up to 300 workers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Cooper|first=Rebecca|date=30 January 2020|title=Safeway parent will lay off 520 in Prince George's County|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/01/30/safeway-parent-will-lay-off-520-in-prince-george-s.html?iana=hpmvp_wash_news_headline|journal=Washington Business Journal|access-date=January 31, 2020|archive-date=April 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423000404/https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/01/30/safeway-parent-will-lay-off-520-in-prince-george-s.html?iana=hpmvp_wash_news_headline|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Albertsons's total sales experienced a growth of 27% compared to the previous year. The rise in sales and higher traffic came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in gross sales of $22.8 billion in the second quarter of 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/albertsons-books-higher-sales-amid-coronavirus-11595852513?mod=business_lead_pos6|title=Albertsons Books Higher Sales Amid Coronavirus|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=July 27, 2020|last=Kang|first=Jaewon|access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727234629/https://www.wsj.com/articles/albertsons-books-higher-sales-amid-coronavirus-11595852513?mod=business_lead_pos6|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the company finally went public in June 2020 after years of delays.
<ref>{{Cite news|last=Terlep|first=Jaewon Kang and Sharon|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/albertsons-prepares-for-an-ipo-again-11578941243|title=Albertsons Prepares for an IPO, Again|date=2020-01-13|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-03-06|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=March 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306171934/https://www.wsj.com/articles/albertsons-prepares-for-an-ipo-again-11578941243|url-status=live}}</ref> The potential [[Initial public offering|IPO]] for the company could be valued at around $19 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/albertsons-reportedly-preparing-ipo-after-failing-multiple-times-grocery-cerberus-2020-1-1028814011|title=Grocery giant Albertsons is reportedly preparing to go public after failing multiple times in the past {{!}} Markets Insider|last=Reinicke|first=Carmen|date=2020-01-13|website=markets.businessinsider.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217152925/https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/albertsons-reportedly-preparing-ipo-after-failing-multiple-times-grocery-cerberus-2020-1-1028814011|archive-date=February 17, 2020|access-date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref>[https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1646972/000119312520065176/d817604ds1.htm Form S-1 of Albertsons Companies Inc.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621083219/https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1646972/000119312520065176/d817604ds1.htm |date=June 21, 2020 }}, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2020.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Driebusch|first1=Corrie|last2=Kang|first2=Jaewon|date=2020-06-18|title=Albertsons Kicks Off Roadshow, Setting Up IPO for Next Week|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/albertsons-looks-to-price-ipo-between-18-and-20-a-share-11592514861|access-date=2020-06-19|archive-date=June 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619175650/https://www.wsj.com/articles/albertsons-looks-to-price-ipo-between-18-and-20-a-share-11592514861|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Repko|first=Melissa|date=2020-06-26|title=Albertsons CEO says grocery operator's IPO is 'a great accomplishment' amid coronavirus pandemic|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/26/albertsons-ceo-says-ipo-is-a-great-accomplishment-amid-coronavirus-pandemic.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=June 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627173748/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/26/albertsons-ceo-says-ipo-is-a-great-accomplishment-amid-coronavirus-pandemic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During the time of going public, one more division change was announced when the Mid-Atlantic Division was created by combining Eastern and ACME Markets, and based out of ACME's headquarters in Malvern, PA <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Safeway/Eastern, Acme To Merge HQ To Create Mid-Atlantic Division|url=https://www.foodtradenews.com/2020/07/01/safeway-eastern-acme-to-merge-hq-to-create-mid-atlantic-division/|website=foodtradenews.com|language=en-US|access-date=August 6, 2020|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412180210/https://www.foodtradenews.com/2020/07/01/safeway-eastern-acme-to-merge-hq-to-create-mid-atlantic-division/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, Albertsons submitted a winning bid for the [[Kings Food Markets]]/[[Balducci's]] chain. These will be merged into the Mid-Atlantic Division.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-14|title=Acme Markets wins bid to buy 27 Kings, Balducci's stores|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/acme-markets-wins-bid-buy-27-kings-balducci-s-stores|website=Supermarket News|language=en|access-date=October 16, 2020|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017191040/https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/acme-markets-wins-bid-buy-27-kings-balducci-s-stores|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Acquisition by Kroger ====

On October 14, 2022, [[Kroger]] announced its intent to merge with Albertsons, with Kroger acquiring all Albertsons shares and divesting some stores to secure regulatory approval. The $24.6 billion transaction was expected to close in early 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Repko |first=Melissa |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Kroger agrees to buy rival grocery company Albertsons for $24.6 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/14/kroger-agrees-to-buy-albertsons-for-24point6-billion.html |publisher=[[CNBC]] |accessdate=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018230048/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/14/kroger-agrees-to-buy-albertsons-for-24point6-billion.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kroger and Albertsons Companies Announce Definitive Merger Agreement |url=https://ir.kroger.com/CorporateProfile/press-releases/press-release/2022/Kroger-and-Albertsons-Companies-Announce-Definitive-Merger-Agreement/default.aspx |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Kroger Corporate |language=en-US |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014115441/https://ir.kroger.com/CorporateProfile/press-releases/press-release/2022/Kroger-and-Albertsons-Companies-Announce-Definitive-Merger-Agreement/default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The announcement was met with criticism due to the potential for monopolies to form in some U.S. cities that have few other grocery chains, as well as [[food desert]]s that would form from store closures.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=October 19, 2022 |title=In Seattle, Kroger-Albertsons merger raises fears of closures, 'grocery deserts' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/in-seattle-kroger-albertsons-merger-raises-fears-of-closures-grocery-deserts/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |accessdate=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019140412/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/in-seattle-kroger-albertsons-merger-raises-fears-of-closures-grocery-deserts/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Raymond |first=Art |date=October 17, 2022 |title=If grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons merge, will consumers win or lose? |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/17/23409177/kroger-albertsons-merger-will-consumers-pay-more |work=[[Deseret News]] |accessdate=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018074505/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/17/23409177/kroger-albertsons-merger-will-consumers-pay-more |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 1, 2022, [[Attorney General of Washington|Washington Attorney General]] [[Bob Ferguson (politician)|Bob Ferguson]] filed a lawsuit in [[King County Superior Court]] against Albertsons and Kroger seeking to halt the payment of a $4&nbsp;billion dividend to Albertsons shareholders. The lawsuit aims to prevent Albertsons from winding down operations and preparing store closures during regulator review of the merger.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=November 1, 2022 |title=WA sues to block $4 billion Albertsons dividend ahead of Kroger merger |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wa-sues-to-block-4-billion-albertsons-dividend-ahead-of-kroger-merger/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 2, 2022 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102014146/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wa-sues-to-block-4-billion-albertsons-dividend-ahead-of-kroger-merger/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other state attorneys general have also investigated the merger according to [[Reuters]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 26, 2022 |title=U.S. state attorneys general probing Kroger deal for Albertsons |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-state-attorneys-general-probing-kroger-deal-albertsons-2022-10-26/ |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=November 2, 2022 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102074815/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-state-attorneys-general-probing-kroger-deal-albertsons-2022-10-26/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2024, the FTC sued to block the acquisition stating that the deal would negatively impact consumer prices and workers' wages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Creswell |first=Julie |date=February 26, 2024 |title=F.T.C. Sues to Block Kroger-Albertsons Grocery Store Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/business/ftc-kroger-albertsons-merger.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

In February 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) and attorney generals in eight states filed an anti-trust lawsuit to stop the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sisco |first=Josh |date=2024-02-26 |title=FTC, states challenge Kroger's $25 billion grocery merger with Albertsons |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/26/ftc-krogers-albertsons-grocery-merger-00143287 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-25 |title=FTC Challenges Kroger's Acquisition of Albertsons |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/ftc-challenges-krogers-acquisition-albertsons |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}}</ref> The case went to trial in August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sisco |first1=Josh |last2=Brown |first2=Marcia |date=2024-08-26 |title=Feds take grocery merger to court amid 2024 fight over high food prices |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/26/feds-grocery-merger-fight-00176231 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref> 

In October 2024, Albertsons settled a lawsuit filed by prosecutors in five California counties. The allegations include [[Price gouging|price overcharging]] and false weight advertising.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miskell |first=Dani |date=2024-10-04 |title=Albertsons, Vons settles nearly $4M lawsuit for price overcharges and false weight advertising |url=https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/albertsons-vons-settles-nearly-4m-lawsuit-for-price-overcharges-and-false-weight-advertising |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=DA'S OFFICE HOLDS ALBERTSONS AND VONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR OVERCHARGING CUSTOMERS |url=https://rivcoda.org/albertsons_vons_overcharging |website=rivcoda.org |publisher=Office of the District Attorney: County of Riverside}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hasrter |first=Clara |date=2024-10-04 |title=Albertsons to pay $3.9 million over allegations it overcharged, lied about weight of groceries |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-03/albertsons-to-pay-3-9-million-over-allegations-it-overcharged-lied-about-weight-of-groceries |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2024, "a federal court issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday against the proposed merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, siding with the Biden administration. … The $25 billion deal would have merged the country's second and fourth-largest grocers by market share, with Kroger trailing only Walmart and Albertsons sitting behind Costco."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.axios.com/2024/12/10/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-preliminary-injunction | title=U.S. District judge places preliminary injunction on Kroger-Albertsons merger }}</ref>

On December 11, 2024, Albertsons Companies, Inc. announced the termination of its merger agreement with Kroger. This decision followed injunctions issued 
by the U.S. District Court in Oregon and the King County Superior Court for the State of Washington, which blocked the proposed $25 billion merger. In response to the failed merger, Albertsons filed a lawsuit against Kroger in the Delaware Court of Chancery, alleging willful breach of contract and seeking billions of dollars in damages. The termination entitled Albertsons to an immediate $600 million termination fee and removed contractual constraints on pursuing other strategic opportunities. Following these events, Albertsons announced plans to accelerate its "Customers for Life" strategy, increase its quarterly cash dividend by 25%, and authorize a $2 billion share repurchase program.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2024 |title=Albertsons Files Lawsuit Against Kroger for Breach of Merger Agreemen |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211517822/en/Albertsons-Files-Lawsuit-Against-Kroger-for-Breach-of-Merger-Agreement }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2024 |title=Albertsons Terminates Merger Agreement |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211817240/en/Albertsons-Terminates-Merger-Agreement }}</ref>