Kroger Co. (KR) is rumored to be in the early stages of exploring a sale of Ralphs, its smaller rival in the grocery sector. This news comes as Kroger faces increased competition from Walmart and Amazon.
com. Kroger is said to be looking for a partner to help with the Ralphs sale, and it is possible that Kroger would like to own Ralphs outright.
A sale of Ralphs would give Kroger a larger footprint in the grocery sector and help the company compete better against Walmart and Amazon. Kroger’s stock price has been volatile in recent months, but a Ralphs sale could provide stability for the company.
If Kroger does decide to sell Ralphs, it is likely that a partner would be sought to help with the transition. Kroger could also use the sale to shore up its balance sheet and increase its liquidity.
A sale of Ralphs would likely not be completed for several years, and it is unclear what the final outcome would be.