# Why does Kroger have so many aliases? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995 "2021-06-10T19:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/141 "2023-09-11T22:56:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > and the buyer is a company that currently operates a couple dozen Piggly Wigglies in NH This isn’t really accurate. C&S is _headquartered_ in New Hampshire, but the retail stores they operate are under the Piggly Wiggly brand (in the Midwest and the Carolinas), and the Grand Union brand (in New York and Vermont). It appears that they may be the owners of the Piggly Wiggly brand name, and franchise it out to other retailers (it’s a big grocery brand thoughout the South). This PR release indicates that they currently operate over 160 grocery stores, and, as already noted, they are huge in grocery wholesaling to other retailers. > **[C&S WHOLESALE GROCERS ENTERS INTO A DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE 413...](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cs-wholesale-grocers-enters-into-a-definitive-agreement-to-purchase-413-stores-available-from-the-kroger-and-albertsons-merger-301921868.html)** > > /PRNewswire/ -- C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC, (C&S) an industry leader in wholesale grocery supply and supply chain solutions in the United States, has entered... ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/142 "2023-09-11T23:57:40Z")
All of this is context that was not provided by my local paper. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/143 "2023-09-12T02:27:20Z")
I’d have to imagine that the Haggen deal was a disaster waiting to happen because of the amount of debt that had to be involved for such a small chain to take over so many stores; if they tripped up even a little, the debt service would just be too much. The first report of the more recent deal would have suggested something similar might happen, but it sounds like the company involved is actually much larger. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/144 "2023-09-13T14:54:44Z")
Originally the idea was that Wal-Mart, Target, and K-Mart (and others I’m sure) were “discount stores”, meaning that they sold much the same stuff as a classical department store, but cheaper. Over time they’ve taken over retailing, and classic department stores mainly sell a subset of what they used to - primarily higher-end clothing/shoes and stuff that people register for baby showers and weddings. I don’t even know if stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom actually sell sporting goods, toys, or electronics anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/145 "2023-09-13T20:55:00Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I don’t even know if stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom actually sell sporting goods, toys, or electronics anymore. Last time I found myself in a Macy’s I’d say it was about 95% women’s apparel. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/146 "2023-09-14T13:40:57Z")
Yeah, I agree. From what I can tell, modern-day department stores seem to be centered around women’s apparel, perfumes/colognes, and to a much lesser extent, men’s clothing (specifically suits and higher-end stuff), and some housewares like sheets/comforters. It’s definitely not like going to Montgomery Ward or Sears as a kid, and running off to the toy, sporting goods, and electronics sections, where the cool stuff was, while my parents bought clothes and small appliances, etc… ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/147 "2023-09-14T15:46:27Z")
Department stores definitely don’t sell the same amount of items that they used to ( my husband remembers when Macy’s had a meat department) but another difference was paying - department stores do not/did not have a central check out area where people lined up with shopping carts. Department stores have registers in each department . You could usually pay for items at any register unless one of the departments involved was a concession/ ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/148 "2023-09-14T16:12:29Z")
Kroger needs lots of aliases because it likes to unwind by robbing gas stations on the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/149 "2023-09-22T10:43:33Z")
[https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/ufcw-cites-echoes-haggen-proposed-cs-deal](https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/ufcw-cites-echoes-haggen-proposed-cs-deal) Some people agree with you on this. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/150 "2023-10-03T23:18:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Haggen used to be a small chain of about 15 high-end grocery stores, mostly located in western WA and HQed in Bellingham. I have never seen a grocery store with a better deli than Haggen. I’m glad they’re still around after all that garbage. We have one here just outside of town (though it’s far enough away that we don’t go to it that often). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/151 "2024-02-27T16:24:02Z")
Bumping, Kroger may NOT get a bunch of new aliases. > **[US sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger](https://theweek.com/business/kroger-albertsons-merger-ftc-block)** > > The Federal Trade Commission sued to block the $24.6 billion merger between the grocery giants ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/152 "2024-02-28T01:39:58Z")
Pay-Less started in Anderson. I seem to remember a Pay-Less in Muncie back when I was at BSU (late 70s- early 80s). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/153 "2024-03-01T13:39:26Z")
This doesn’t (necessarily) apply to large corporations using different names to separate varying formats, but a tactic used by some dodgy businesses is to have separate divisions using completely different names. That way they can 1) fool customers who’ve been burned by one their sleazy enterprises, but don’t know the new one is run by the identical sleazebags, and 2) help elude regulators who are investigating or have cracked down on/closed an earlier incarnation. I’ve noticed this in particular with mail-order plant nurseries. The ones doing business under multiple aliases are the ones to watch out for. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/154 "2024-12-11T18:37:04Z")
Well, that didn’t end well. > **[Albertsons demands billions from rival Kroger after terminating merger bid](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/albertsons-terminates-25-billion-merger-133915536.html)** > > (Reuters) -Albertsons terminated its $25 billion bid to merge with Kroger on Wednesday after courts blocked the deal and sued its rival, alleging a breach of contract that led to the deal's demise. Albertsons said it was suing due to Kroger's... ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/155 "2024-12-11T23:31:05Z")
My local Safeway(Albertson’s) was by far the best grocery store in town until the past few months, but it was on the divestiture list (one of the other local stores is Fry’s(Kroger)). Since around August the store has been poorly stocked, lots of stuff out of stock and only showing up sporadically. I spoke to the manager who says he keeps ordering everything but stuff just doesn’t come in. He said it has nothing to do with the merger, but I can see the rationale of giving delivery preference to the stores you are going to keep versus those which are going away soon. Anybody see this sort of thing with other stores on the divestiture list? It will be interesting to see if things get better now that the store is going to remain a Safeway. (I still shop with my old Wegman’s reusable bags in the hopes that “if you carry it they will come”. A futile dream…) ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/156 "2024-12-12T00:25:45Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Anybody see this sort of thing with other stores on the divestiture list? It will be interesting to see if things get better now that the store is going to remain a Safeway. It’s been a running joke in the industry. They weren’t even pretending that they were going to sell those stores to C&S as running businesses. They were going to drive most of the customers to the surviving Kroger banners. C&S was buying real estate, not operating grocery stores. That or the owner of C&S was totally delusional. He’s been staggeringly successful in wholesale, but has no track record or credibility as a retail operator. They just have shills putting out “analysis” showing how this merger wouldn’t reduce competition. Laughable stuff that was being roundly mocked on LinkedIn, with people pointing out the authors’ connections to firms “advising” either Albertsons or Kroger. The denial of the merger was a huge non-surprise. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/157 "2024-12-12T22:34:27Z")
Yes. Kroger decided a few years ago that they wanted to be Harris-Teeter in NC. I have no idea why, but I guess it’s their call. BTW, if you look at Creedmoor Road in Raleigh, just south of I-540, there are three Harris-Teeters in a space of less than 3 miles. Not three in a 3-mile radius, but three stores on the same straight stretch of road. ---
**Author:** ![schnebs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@schnebs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnebs)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/158 "2024-12-17T05:29:27Z")
Good riddance to that proposed merger, I say. We lost one of our grocery stores in town in the Albertson’s/ Vons merger (the only Albertson’s in town, go figure); it briefly became a Haggen before they went bankrupt and Grocery Outlet took over half the space. I’m sure we would have lost more stores had the merger of Kroger and Albertsons (or whatever the name of Vons’ corporate overlords is now) gone through. From some of the news stories I’ve read in the aftermath, the merger was mainly about justifying a big fat dividend to Albertsons’ largest shareholders anyway, not competing with Wal-Mart et al. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/159 "2024-12-17T15:45:17Z")
I am also glad that it was stopped. The only regular grocery stores are a Kroger owned one and an Albertsons owned one. The prices here were already high going back several years. I feared that a merger would result in further price gouging. Mentioned upthread is that it is “Kroger” not “Krogers”. To which I note the 800 number of the company. 1-800-KROGER is one letter too short. Guess what letter they added! ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995/160 "2024-12-18T17:55:20Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > They just have shills putting out “analysis” showing how this merger wouldn’t reduce competition. Laughable stuff that was being roundly mocked on LinkedIn, with people pointing out the authors’ connections to firms “advising” either Albertsons or Kroger. And the shills keep going. The author of this article is the former spokesperson for Kroger. > **[The FTC called the Kroger, Albertsons merger collapse ‘a victory for the...](https://www.supermarketnews.com/mergers-acquisitions/the-ftc-called-the-kroger-albertsons-merger-collapse-a-victory-for-the-american-people-but-is-it-?utm_source=social&utm_medium=rss&utm_id=sn)** > > My premise is this: the grocery industry, and consumers, were not ever threatened by the proposed Kroger, Albertsons merger, regardless of what plaintiff “experts” testified in court [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-kroger-have-so-many-aliases/943995.md?page=9)