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Kroger to close two Puget Sound stores
Two stores in Everett and Kent will close in October, affecting hundreds of workers and drawing union and community scrutiny.
Kroger says two Puget Sound stores will close due to weak performance, affecting hundreds of workers.
Kroger plans to close two stores in Everett and Kent
Kroger has announced plans to close two stores in the Puget Sound region, one in Everett and one in Kent, with closures scheduled for October 17 and 18. The move is expected to affect about 360 workers across both locations. The company notes weak performance as the reason for the closures and references broader actions announced in June that included the planned closure of 60 stores nationwide. The UFCW Local 3000 union says the closures show the company prioritizing profit over customers and workers, highlighting potential long-term effects on local access to groceries.
Fred Meyer, Kroger’s Washington unit, issued a statement noting a rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment that adds costs, saying these factors make the stores financially unviable. The firm adds that associates will be offered positions at other locations. This wave of closures follows Kroger’s failed merger with Albertsons in December 2024 and comes alongside earlier community pushback to a separate closure in Tacoma.
Key Takeaways
"Kroger’s closures put profit over people, plain and simple."
Statement from UFCW Local 3000 President Faye Guenther about the closures
"Fred Meyer is proud to serve communities across Washington. Unfortunately, due to a steady rise in theft and a challenging regulatory environment that adds significant costs, we can no longer make these stores financially viable."
Company statement cited in the article
The closures illustrate a broader pattern of cost cutting by large grocers in expensive markets. In places like the Puget Sound region, where rents and operating costs are high, profit targets can translate into reduced local access to affordable groceries. The UFCW critique frames the move as a test of corporate responsibility, not just a business decision. The timing after the Albertsons talks ended and after a series of nationwide store shutdowns suggests Kroger is rebalancing its portfolio more aggressively, even as communities struggle with housing pressures and food access. If residents and workers push back, retailers may face more scrutiny from policymakers and regulators and could be forced to rethink scheduling, relocation offers, and community support commitments.
Highlights
- Food deserts are not collateral damage
- Profit at any cost hurts the neighbors we serve
- Communities deserve a plan that protects jobs and access to groceries
- Retail power should come with social responsibility
Store closures raise concerns about jobs and access to groceries
The planned closures affect hundreds of workers and could widen local gaps in grocery access. Critics say profit-focused cost cutting may harm communities, raising the chance of public backlash and regulatory scrutiny.
How Kroger answers community needs may shape the next chapter for big retailers in tough markets.
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