SEATTLE — Two Fred Meyer stores are closing permanently in western Washington in mid-October.
Kroger, the company that owns both Fred Meyer and QFC, confirmed to KOMO News that it will close stores in Everett and Kent.
UFCW 3000, the union that represents the workers in the stores, said 360 employees will be affected.
Kroger blamed the closures on “a steady rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment that adds significant costs.”
“We can no longer make these stores financially viable,” Kroger told KOMO News in a statement. “Despite doubling our safety and security investment over the past years, these challenges remain.”
UFCW 3000, the union that represents the workers in the stores, said the closures of stores in low-income areas threaten food access for working-class communities. The union also said Kroger is opening stores in “potentially high-sales areas,” despite the company experiencing rising revenue.
“Kroger’s closures put profit over people, plain and simple,” said UFCW 3000 President Faye Guenther. “This corporate strategy might please Wall Street investors, but we know it’ll create food deserts in our neighborhoods and disrupt the lives of hundreds of workers already displaced by a housing affordability crisis now ten years in the making.”
“Without a doubt, these issues will lead our agenda when we return to the table with Kroger and Albertsons in 2027,” Guenther added. “In the meantime, our union strongly encourages elected leaders to prioritize policies that increase access to fresh, affordable food for all.”
UFCW 3000 also said it plans to meet with Kroger at the bargaining table soon.
The contract between the union and Kroger stipulates that Kroger must offer placement in “equivalent positions at nearby stores” for workers, according to UFCW 3000.
Kroger confirmed to KOMO News that “every associate will be offered a position at another location,” but employees may see increased commuting times to new stores.
Kroger and Albertsons attempted a nearly $25 billion merger between 2022 and 2024. After Washington sued to block what was described as an “illegal” merger, the deal was halted by state and federal judges.
Albertsons eventually gave up on the merger—much to the delight of shoppers—and sued Kroger, saying the latter didn’t do enough to secure regulatory approval.
Kroger pushed the blame back onto Albertsons and accused the company of undermining the merger by working with a secret partner to try and force Kroger to divest more stores.
Albertsons also owns the Safeway brand.
Kroger bought Portland-based Fred Meyer in 1998.
Kroger also navigated a scandal earlier this year when the company’s chairman and CEO, Rodney McMullen, resigned after an internal investigation into his personal conduct.
Shoppers have been bracing for price hikes at supermarkets as President Donald Trump has rolled out his tariffs on foreign countries.
UFCW 3000 said grocery store workers in the region ratified a new contract in July after a strike authorization the month before.
The union said it is the largest private-sector union in Washington state and that it represents more than 55,000 workers in grocery, healthcare, cannabis, retail, and other industries. UFCW 3000 said it represents nearly 30,000 grocery workers in Washington, eastern Oregon, and north Idaho.
UFCW said the two stores will close on Oct. 17 and 18.
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