Deryl McCarty, USAF (Retired), South Hill.
As a longtime resident of our South Sound communities, a fourth generation Washingtonian, and a 30-year USAF retiree, I see every day that veterans – Active Duty of every service, Guardsmen, Reservists, DoD civilian employees and their families – are the economic and volunteer lifeblood of this community. FYI: veterans volunteer a national average of 95 hours per year versus 74 hours for the average American.
And because JBLM is the single largest employer in our area, and it contracts out for many services in the community, and because veterans are contributing significant property and sales taxes to our local governments for fire and police services, and streets and highways, we are richer for the presence of our veterans and their families.
But for many in the military community this is a two-way street. As most will attest, military pay is not always on the right side of the poverty line, especially for young military families. So many local and national businesses have stepped in. In the last ten years, for example, Kroger has hired over 50,000 veterans for in-store work (check out, product experts, department managers), along with technology and logistics employees at the regional and corporate levels And Kroger has committed over $41 million to the USO, making them the largest contributor in the organization’s 41-year history. Which means a great deal to our local USO on JBLM and the USO at Sea-Tac Airport. Additionally, they’ve spent time and considerable resources to facilitate job training skills programs and hiring for veterans returning from active duty.
Currently, Kroger is amid an effort to merge with Albertsons. They’ve pledged no store closures and no jobs losses. They are also honoring all existing labor agreements. Yet many (including WA AG Bob Ferguson) have expressed opposition. With the growth of Wal-Mart and Costco, the market is shifting, and Kroger is responding to survive. I fear that if they are unable to merge and compete, they may go the way of K-Mart and Sears.
The merger is likely headed to legal battle, but our communities should give this merger a chance. We need companies like Kroger to stay in business and in our neighborhoods, to continue supporting the life blood of our community – veterans.
When i first moved to Lakewood inn 2007, I regularly shopped at Kroger (Fred Meyer) but within a year or two, there was a noticable storewide increase in prices. This was not a period of inflation so probably just to increase profits to appease Wall Street. Currently the closest store to my house is the Safeway/Albertsons on Steilacoom Blvd and I go there occasionally if i just need milk but I’m always shocked at how high their prices are on most staples! If you’re a consumer struggling with your grocery budget, the merger of these two chains would not be good. As for promises not to close stores or layoff employees, these corporate promises are not usually worth the ink and paper they’re printed on (if they’re still printed on ink and paper).
Kroger is very good for our community. Merging Kroger with Safeway/Albertsons would not be a good match. Safeway is so expensive, we barely shop there any more. It’s more like a convenience store for us. If the merger were to go through, Safeway would be under even less pressure to keep prices at their current levels.
In Lakewood, the only grocery stores available are Safeway owned. Yes, we need Kroger, but we truly need an independent Kroger. And Lakewood especially needs some grocery alternatives such as Grocery Outlet, WinCo and Trader Joe’s.
I am a Lakewood resident and like to keep business in Lakewood when possible; but I gladly drive to Fred Meyer on Bridgeport and 67th for better prices and the wide range of other products available in the store. I only shop at the two Safeways in Lakewood when quick convenience for a limited item is needed. Lakewood needs competitors for the two Safeways, especially for the residents who don’t have cars to drive to neighboring communities or even as far away as Walmart. I’m not familiar with Target’s prices and food inventory.