KINGMAN – Worried that the proposed merger of Kroger (Smiths) and Albertsons (Safeway) will adversely affect Kingman? Then Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays wants to hear from you .

A representative from the Mayes office will host a listening session on Wednesday, March 22nd from 10:00 am to noon in Mohave Community College Room 240, Building 200 on the west end of the MCC Kingman campus at 1971 Jagerson Ave.

This is part of a series of listening sessions being held throughout Arizona to hear from families and workers in communities that may be particularly affected by the proposed merger.

It’s also part of an antitrust investigation announced in February by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

“Hard-working Arizonans struggle every day to put fresh, healthy food on the table for their families and have already suffered from the devastating price increases of the past year,” Mays said in a news release. said in

“In addition to (potential) price hikes, the proposed merger raises questions about the potential closure of stores that could force consumers to travel far for groceries. I have,” he added.

The merger could have significant implications for Arizona, where Kroger and Albertsons together operate more than 250 stores.

These stores employ more than 35,000 Arizona employees and account for nearly half of Arizona’s grocery market sales, the AG office wrote.

“Thousands of employees will wonder if their jobs will still exist if the merger is completed. “You might have to worry about it,” says Mayes.

Albertsons and Kroger have announced a proposed merger in October 2022. The companies said he expects to complete the $24.6 billion deal by early 2024.