A number of QFC and Safeway stores in the Olympic Peninsula would find themselves under new ownership if a planned $25 billion merger between the Kroger and Albersons grocery retailers goes through.

Kroger owns QFC and Fred Meyer, while Albertsons owns Safeway and Haggen. The merger would involve the sale of 124 store locations in Washington state, according to a July 9 company statement.

Among the disclosed list of locations slated to be sold — nearly 40% of the companies’ combined stores in the state — are the QFC stores at 515 Sheridan St. in Port Townsend and 1890 Irondale Road in Port Hadlock. Jefferson County’s neighbors would see some stores trade hands. According to Kroger, the QFC store at 990 E. Washington St. in Sequim in Clallam County, and in Kitsap County, the Safeway stores at 1401 N.E. McWilliams Road in Bremerton and 370 S.W. Sedgwick Road in Port Orchard, as well as the Albertsons store at 1434 Olney Ave. S.E. in Port Orchard, would be sold.

Even Mason County would be affected, with sales of its QFC store at 201 N.E. Highway 300 in Belfair, and its Safeway store at 600 Franklin St. in Shelton.

The new combined entity would include more than 5,000 stores. An additional 579 stores are to be sold to New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, as part of the Kroger and Albertsons merger. Kroger representatives said July 10 those stores are to be sold rather than closed.

C&S owns both the Piggly Wiggly grocery brand and the Grand Union supermarkets brand and would acquire the QFC brand in the sale.

Rolfes said the branding of the stores, and other decisions about what would be left open, would be determined by C&S “after the transaction closes.”   

“C&S has been clear in its commitment not to close stores,” said Erin Rolfes, director of corporate communications and media relations for Kroger. She said it was her understanding C&S would keep the stores open and continue to serve their communities “for years to come.”

Rolfes further elaborated that C&S is “committed to ensuring zero stores will close as a result of the merger,” and that “all frontline associates will remain employed, all existing collective bargaining agreements will continue, and associates will continue to receive industry-leading benefits alongside bargained-for wages.”

Kroger and Albertsons are working with C&S “to ensure a seamless transition of ownership for all divested stores and supporting operational infrastructure.”

Asked when some of these transitions might take place, Rolfes said, “In light of the pending litigation, I don’t have a good answer on (a) timeline for you.”

Rolfe was referring to lawsuits being brought against the proposed merger by Washington state, Colorado and the Federal Trade Commission, since the merger includes stores across the United States.

The planned sales of the those stores, from Kroger and Albertsons to C&S, has been touted by Kroger and Albertsons as fulfilling the preservation of competition in the markets where they currently compete,