Grocery Giant Fallout: Is Profit Killing Community?

Kroger’s decision to permanently close two Fred Meyer stores in Washington is raising eyebrows—and maybe some hackles, too. The closures, planned for October 17 and 18 in Kent and Everett, will leave around 360 workers searching for new jobs. But while Kroger cites a rise in theft as the culprit, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 union insists it’s really about profits trumping community needs. Who’s right?

The Fred Meyer spokesperson claims they’re doubling down on safety while dealing with a “challenging regulatory environment.” Kind of feels like they need a new PR strategy. It’s not the first time Kroger’s faced backlash for store closures either—this follows a wave of national shutdowns that has communities feeling increasingly abandoned. If you’ve ever tried to find fresh produce in a food desert, you know how frustrating this can be.

And let’s be honest, blaming theft feels like an easy scapegoat, doesn’t it? Communities are left wondering what happens next as we watch grocery stores vanish like milk before an impending snowstorm. What would it take for big corporations to consider the impact they’re having on everyday people instead of just the bottom line? Maybe the real question is: How do we bring a little humanity back into business?

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