Grocery giant sounds alarm on price increases due to Trump tariffs
Albertsons acknowledged that hiked-up foreign taxes may put pressure on many businesses, but suppliers are not to include tariff-related fees in their invoices without the chain's approval. 'Therefore, with few exceptions, we are not accepting cost increases due to tariffs,' the message reads. The company explained that if a supplier absolutely must increase their costs, they have to provide at least 90 days notice before billing Albertsons any differently. Suppliers must also provide valid proof that tariffs really are increasing the price of their products.
Albertsons will then look over the request, which could take another month before it gets okayed or denied. President Donald Trump has placed a temporary pause on his previously imposed reciprocal tariffs and given most nations until the beginning of July to work out new trade policies with America. But there is still a universal 10 percent tariff rate on almost every good being imported into the US.
He has also imposed 25 percent tariffs on automotive parts and vehicles, as well as on steel and aluminum. Mexico and Canada have been hit with a 25 percent tax on most goods coming into the US, except those covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. China has been slammed with the heftiest tax of all - a 145 percent rate with hardly any exceptions.
With the unavoidable nature of these tariffs, American Economic Liberties Project researcher Matt Stoller believes Albertsons' plan is too idealistic and the letter was arrogant. 'That's absurd, since the cost of many items is going to spike, and suppliers will go out of business if they can't cover those increased costs,' Stoller wrote in the BIG newsletter. 'Yet, the arrogance speaks to the power of buyers like Albertsons. And Albertsons is nothing compared to Walmart or Amazon.'
Vivek Sankaran (pictured), Albertsons current CEO, is set to retire effective May 1 - just days away - according to a company press release. He will be replaced by Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Susan Morris. 'It has been a privilege to lead Albertsons Cos. through a critical period of evolution and I couldn't be more confident in the Company's future with Susan at the helm,' Sankaran said when he announced his retirement in March.
According to the company, keeping food affordable for its customers has always been a top priority. 'The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood,' a March press release reads. Albertsons had previously tried to position itself to be a strong competitor against the grocer giants Stoller mentioned, such as Costco and Walmart, by merging with Kroger.
However, this grand plan fell through last year because of legal hurdles and regulatory concerns brought up by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorney generals. The FTC claimed : 'Kroger and Albertsons's inadequate divestiture proposal is a hodgepodge of unconnected stores, banners, brands, and other assets that Kroger's antitrust lawyers have cobbled together and falls far short of mitigating the lost competition between Kroger and Albertsons.' The commission believed the merger would eliminate competition and be detrimental for the grocery chain industry.
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