WOODINVILLE, Wash. — People commenting on KIRO 7's Facebook page have worried the takeover of some Albertsons and Safeway stores by Haggen will mean customers will pay higher prices.
A lot of people expect to pay more at Haggen, because they consider it a fancier store.
Federal regulators are requiring the sale of 26 Washington stores to Haggen after Albertsons and Safeway merged.
KIRO 7 did some price-checking of a few basic items at the Haggen and Albertsons stores in Woodinville, which are just blocks apart
Two items sold for exactly the same price.
A dozen store-brand eggs cost $1.99 at each store and Franz San Juan Island 9 Grain Bread sold for $4.99 at both Albertsons and Haggen.
A can of Hunt's stewed tomatoes was cheaper at Albertsons, $1.50 compared to $1.69 at Haggen.
Two other items were each 20 cents cheaper at Haggen.
A box of Cheerios cost $3.79 at Albertsons, compared to $3.59 at Haggen.
A half gallon of Darigold 2% milk sold for $2.89 at Albertsons and $2.69 at Haggen.
The total bill came to $15.16 at Albertsons and $14.95 at Haggen, a difference of 21 cents.
KIRO 7 showed the results to Elaine Pinkerton, who shops at both stores.
"Really? So it's going to come out pretty close to the same," Pinkerton said.
She had considered Haggen to be more expensive.
"That does surprise me," she said.
KIRO
