One Of America’s Biggest Grocery Stores May Soon Be Acquiring Sprouts

Reports on Monday indicated that Sprouts Farmers Markets could soon be merging with grocery giant Albertsons.

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. is an American health food supermarket offering fresh, natural and organic foods at low prices that operates 250-plus stores in 13 states.

The chain reported net sales of $986 million, a six percent increase over the same period in 2015, and comparable store sales growth of 0.7%, according to its fourth-quarter earnings, released last month.

Albertsons has stores in 35 states and Washington, D.C. and is backed by Cerberus Capital Management. Though it had planned an IPO in 2015 it then delayed it. The store’s brands include Safeway, Vons and Star Market.

According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, Albertsons held preliminary talks to merge with Sprouts Farmers Market. Bloomberg has said the early stage discussions took place in recent weeks and involved a plan to take Sprouts private.

“We don’t comment on rumors or speculation,” Albertsons spokeswoman Chris Wilcox said this morning.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (NASDAQ: SFM) and have not been compensated for this article.