‘Destroying the grocery market’ infuriates Kroger shopper as app change makes it even harder to get discounts

KROGER customers had trouble redeeming coupons through the store’s app.

As inflation remains high, shoppers are doing everything they can to save money at the grocery store.

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Many stores have started offering digital coupons to help customers make ends meet.

One shopper discovered that it’s only worth shopping at Kroger if you download the store’s app.

“Hey Kroger and Mariano’s Market, why do I need to have an app installed on my phone to get decent prices at your store?” Resita (@rere131) asked in X.

Mercado Mariano is a smaller store owned by Kroger.

“I don’t want your app. I think I will buy elsewhere”, they wrote.

A local shopper responded that he believed Kroger was selling items at Mariano’s store.

“Thank you, Kroger, for destroying what was left of the Chicago food market that Albertsons once worked to destroy,” Derek (@dletell) wrote.

Kroger apologized to customers and asked for more information to help them rectify the situation.

FUSION MIX

Derek was likely referring to a proposed $24.6 billion merger between the two companies, first announced in October 2022.

Albertsons and Kroger have faced backlash from the Federal Trade Commission and other authorities.

Concerns have been raised about the merger lessening competition and harming buyers by giving them fewer options.

“The largest supermarket merger in U.S. history will eliminate competition and raise food prices for millions of Americans while harming tens of thousands of workers,” the FTC said. alleged in an antitrust lawsuit filed in February.

Colorado Attorney General Philip J. Weiser filed another lawsuit later that month, citing that the merger would allow both retailers to “control more than half of the grocery industry” in the state.

“The elimination of competition between these two industry giants will also eliminate the many benefits to Coloradans that accompany such competition and will lead to higher prices and a diminished quality of the shopping experience,” the lawsuit says.

To calm these fears, Kroger and Albertsons announced earlier this year that they would sell between 400 and 650 stores.

The two companies proposed selling 579 stores for $2.9 billion in areas that overlap with C&S Wholesale Grocers.

The companies initially offered to sell 413 locations, but the FTC said that was “inadequate” for C&S to have fair competition.

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen told employees Tuesday that employees will be transferred to C&S and will retain all current pay and health insurance, reports. Bloomberg.

Additionally, both companies will invest $500 million to reduce in-store prices and an additional $1 billion to increase employee wages and benefits.

Customers accused Kroger of scamming customers after their coupons were rejected.

Additionally, one customer notified others after they were charged despite not swiping their card.