COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio-based Kroger has announced a multi-billion dollar acquisition of one of its most successful competitors.
According to a Wednesday morning release, Kroger announced an agreement in which it will acquire Giant Eagle, whose stores span across northeastern states and into the Midwest.
The announced purchase price of $1.65 billion includes over 200 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Indiana.
Map: See where Kroger, Giant Eagle stores are located in Columbus area
“We evaluated the opportunity carefully, and the strategic fit is clear. Giant Eagle expands our reach into attractive adjacent markets, allowing us to do what we do best,” Kroger CEO Greg Foran said.
The sale is expected to be finalized in 2027.
A spokesperson said Giant Eagle will continue to operate under its own name, and there are no plans to close stores or eliminate frontline jobs, but a “limited number of store divestitures” are expected as part of the regulatory review process.
The two stores rank among the top grocers in the Columbus area by market share, along with Walmart and Meijer, and employ over 59,000 people according to the Ohio Department of Development.
“Together with Kroger, we will be well-positioned to advance our strategy and deliver better quality and service, better everyday value, and a better shopping experience for our customers, while providing greater growth opportunities for our dedicated Team Members,” Giant Eagle CEO Bill Artman said.
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The sale follows an April announcement in which Kroger said it is planning a $112 million investment into eight store renovations and two new stores, including a Delaware location on Sunbury Rd., which is scheduled to open in the fall.
Kroger owns dozens of stores in and around the Columbus area, along with 197 stores throughout 114 Ohio cities. Across the country, Kroger totals 2,700 stores over 35 states, according to its website. It had attempted to purchase Albertson’s grocery store chain in 2022, but a federal judge ruled against the sale in 2024, citing consumer protection laws in the state of Washington.
Giant Eagle and Giant Eagle Market District, out of Pittsburgh, began moving into central Ohio in 2004, replacing many Big Bear grocery stores in the Columbus area.
A Kroger representative declined to comment when reached by NBC4.
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