[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by verified resident. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of South King Media, nor its staff.]
When those in our community need groceries, you all depend on stores like the one I work at – the South Burien Safeway. When you need prescriptions you depend on stores. When you need some cleaning supplies, a bag of ice on a hot day, a birthday card for your loved one, drinks and burgers for a cookout, and so many more situations you depend on our neighborhood stores. It seems like every other day you swing by the store to grab something; and without fail my coworkers and I are there at the local grocery store – day and night. We were there before, during, and after COVID came. We will continue to be there for years to come, so long as our stores are open.
Our jobs are so important for us and you, and that’s another big reason to say no to the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons that threaten to close stores and lay us off.
My store – the Safeway located at 138 SW 148th Street in Burien – is one of the more than 500 stores that Kroger and Albertsons have announced they would sell off across the country in a bid to get their merger approved. Fully 124 of those stores are located here in Washington. The new company they would be selling these locations to, C&S Wholesale, is unproven when it comes to running grocery stores or pharmacies. While Kroger and Albertsons have released statements saying there won’t be closures, C&S Wholesale has notably remained silent on the matter. There is no commitment to keep our stores running long term if this merger is permitted to go through. This proposed merger is a bad idea for workers and shoppers.
I say “Protect Our Jobs. Protect our Stores. Stop the Merger”. Thanks for your support. If you are a shopper and want to help, go to http://www.NoGroceryMerger.com to take action and find out more.
– Arc Di
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That store was doomed anyway . I quit shopping there because it was so difficult to get in and out .
Agree. The merger would be a disaster for grocery shoppers.