No operational changes planned for Marietta Giant Eagle amid Kroger acquisition
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MARIETTA -- Giant Eagle said no operational changes are planned at its Marietta store following the announcement that Kroger has agreed to acquire the Pittsburgh-based grocery chain.
Josie Wadlow, responding on behalf of Giant Eagle, said the local store is expected to continue operating as usual.
"There are no planned changes to the operation of the Marietta Giant Eagle," Wadlow said.
A sign outside of the Giant Eagle lot advertises a “For Lease” sign from CBRE Group Inc., however a CBRE representative stated that the sign was advertising two lots in the strip-mall portion of the Frontier Shopping Center.
Kroger and Giant Eagle announced July 1 that they had entered into a definitive agreement under which Cincinnati-based Kroger will acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion. The price includes $1.25 billion in cash and Kroger's assumption of approximately $400 million in outstanding liabilities.
The transaction has not yet closed. The companies said it is expected to be completed in 2027, subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions. Kroger and Giant Eagle said limited Giant Eagle store divestitures are expected as part of the regulatory review process.
The companies did not identify the stores that could be affected by those divestitures in their announcement. Giant Eagle has said it will retain its name as part of Kroger.
Giant Eagle operates 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. The company has approximately $9 billion in annual sales, according to the joint announcement.
"Giant Eagle is a well-run, high-quality regional grocer with a strong reputation for fresh products, pharmacy, private label and customer loyalty," Kroger CEO Greg Foran said in the announcement.
Foran said the acquisition would expand Kroger's presence in nearby markets and allow the company to combine Giant Eagle's stores, loyalty program and pharmacy business with Kroger's e-commerce and customer personalization operations.
Giant Eagle CEO Bill Artman called the agreement "an exciting next chapter" for the company's employees, customers, vendors and community partners.
"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," Artman said.