While the outcome of the Kroger-Albertsons merger remains still undecided, the grocery industry still saw a flurry of mergers and acquisitions in 2023 growing store footprints and operations of companies large and small.
Some of the marque merger announcements this year included Aldi acquiring Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket and beloved Chicago food retailers Foxtrot Market and Dom’s Kitchen & Market combining.
While some deals are helping to scale brick-and-mortar footprints, others aim to streamline operations. In an effort to focus more on its store-based approach to e-commerce, Ahold Delhaize USA this fall announced the sale of its FreshDirect grocery e-commerce service to Getir. Brookshire Grocery Co. sold most of its pharmacies to Walgreens, adding to the list of grocers who have exited or scaled back their pharmacy operations in recent years.
The elephant in the room — regulators’ pending decision on the Kroger-Albertsons deal proposed in 2022 — took another major step this year with the two grocery giants unveiling a $1.9 billion definitive agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers. That plan would see Kroger and Albertsons offload 413 stores — and potentially up to 650 — as well some private brands, distribution centers and offices to appease regulators.
As 2023 comes to a close, here’s a look back at the major storylines in grocery industry deals this year.
