More Bids For Albertson's

By Erin in Food on Dec 14, 2005 4:25PM

The Tribune is reporting today that Albertson's is "weighing" at least five bids for the Boise, Idaho-based grocery chain's operations, which includes the Chicago-area Jewel/Osco stores.

While the identity of three of the bidders has not been revealed - according to the story those companies include grocery behemoth Kroger Co. of Cincinnati and Supervalu Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn. - Chicagoist thinks it's interesting to note that two of the companies include Deerfield-based Walgreen Co. and CVS Corp. of Woonsocket, R.I.. Each is competing for the nearly 800 free-standing drugstores operated by Albertson's. In the Midwest, according to the article, that number includes 74 free-standing Osco stores.

Chicagoist has never been a fan of Kroger - one of only two shopping options back in our college days in Peoria, Ill. - but we're even more irritated by the onslaught of Walgreens and CVS stores in the Chicagoland area. We're not saying it's a rational irritation, but you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Walgreens, and CVS is not too far behind. Everywhere you turn, a new one of these is popping up.

If the free-standing Osco's go to either of these companies, it will be, in the immortal words of John Bender, anarchy. Or something. Really. These stores multiply as though they're spawned from two jackrabbits in heat - are an additional 74 necessary?

Image from crazycoconutcreations.com.