美国国家公共电台 NPR--Lawmakers consider how a Kroger-Albertsons merger would affect consumers

Lawmakers consider how a Kroger-Albertsons merger² would affect consumers

Transcript³

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota about the planned $25 billion merger between grocers Kroger and Albertsons — ahead of a hearing on the matter.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

High inflation has Americans paying close attention to how much we all spend on groceries. And now two of the nation's biggest grocers are planning to merge¹, becoming a supermarket giant big enough to compete with Walmart. Kroger is trying to buy Albertsons for $25 billion. Safeway, Harris Teeter and Fred Meyer would all be part of the same corporation as a result. Some lawmakers are concerned about how that might affect consumers. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is one of them, and she is among the group of senators holding a hearing on this today. Senator, thanks for being here.

AMY KLOBUCHAR: Well, thanks so much, Rachel. And it's great to be on to talk about what, as you know, is beyond grocery stores. Whether it's Ticketmaster, whether it is tech companies, we are seeing so much consolidation⁴ in our economy from cat food to caskets. And this is one big example of it.

MARTIN: So let's talk about this. How - put - help us put this particular proposed merger into context. If this grocery store merger goes through, how many communities would be affected⁵?

KLOBUCHAR: It would affect literally⁶ every community in the country because so many communities have one of these stores or could have one of these stores in the future. So let's go with the Kroger brands are - Kroger's (ph) has Kroger's, and it has Food 4 Less. It has Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Ralphs. Albertsons has Albertsons, Safeway, Balducci's, Jewel-Osco - you name it - Pavilions, Vons. And when you combine them, it's the No. 1 and No. 2 grocery stores in the country. The FTC will be ultimately making the decision on this proposed merger, but we have a hearing. Senator Lee - you know, conservative Republican.

MARTIN: Mike Lee of Utah.

KLOBUCHAR: He and I - yeah, we're holding a bipartisan hearing. And the whole focus is, let's get the information from these two CEOs and other witnesses under oath - helpful for the FTC to make its decision, but also for the senators, because we're considering legislation relevant overall with antitrust, given the changing economy that we're seeing right before our eyes...

MARTIN: So what are you...

KLOBUCHAR: And the effect it has on costs and quality. Go ahead.

MARTIN: What are you worried about, Senator? I mean, is there evidence that this merger goes through and automatically prices go up?

KLOBUCHAR: Well, what you're worried about - first of all, these stores have already come forward and said, you know, we are directly competing with each other, so we would have to divest⁷ at least 375 stores. That means sell them off. This was tried before by Albertsons in the past. And what happened was the company they sold them to - of the 100 divested⁸ stores, as a result, 100 of them - of the 150 stores, 100 of them were actually closed for good. Eight thousand people were laid off. We know that...

MARTIN: So that means potentially there will be communities with fewer grocery stores, you're saying?

KLOBUCHAR: Exactly. And you have got areas in our country - maybe not where everyone lives that's listening, but that have no access. They maybe have one store. They maybe have two stores. And one-third of the grocery stores have closed in the last 25 years, leaving over 10% of Americans in low-access food areas. So - and that's rural and urban. And, you know, it's not the same thing as they may argue today to go to, say, a CVS and try to find some food in there. Yes, you're going to be able to get milk and a few other items, but it's certainly not the same thing as having access to fresh food and the like.

MARTIN: So what specific questions are you going to ask today?

KLOBUCHAR: Well, we're going to ask about how the proposed merger will affect consumers - No. 1 question. No. 2 - how are they going to handle these stores that they divest, and will there be even more? And No. 3 - we still don't have the number on - when you look at the grocery store market and you don't include things like restaurants, we still don't have the number of what their combined dominance will be, No. 1 and 2. So we want to get that number because they are throwing in a bunch of things that we don't believe are the same. And then their commitments to lower prices and improve wages - if this does go through, what are they going to do with the cost savings⁹ they get from combining the companies? Are they committed to lower prices and improved wages?

MARTIN: Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, we so appreciate your time. She is helping¹⁰ to chair a hearing today on a proposed merger between the two largest grocers in the country. Senator Klobuchar, always a pleasure to have you on. Thank you so much.

KLOBUCHAR: Well, thank you, Rachel. It was great to be on, and thank you for covering this issue. It's, like, the biggest issue that not everyone is talking about, monopolies. And it's - you're starting to see the effects throughout our nation's economy. I believe in capitalism¹¹, and we must have competition.

MARTIN: Thank you, Senator.

1 merge   

v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体

参考例句：

• I can merge my two small businesses into a large one.我可以将我的两家小商店合并为一家大商行。
• The directors have decided to merge the two small firms together.董事们已决定把这两家小商号归并起来。

2 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

7 divest   

v.脱去，剥除

参考例句：

• I cannot divest myself of the idea.我无法消除那个念头。
• He attempted to divest himself of all responsibilities for the decision.他力图摆脱掉作出该项决定的一切责任。

8 divested   

v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服

参考例句：

• He divested himself of his jacket. 他脱去了短上衣。
• He swiftly divested himself of his clothes. 他迅速脱掉衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。