Weber Shandwick and Glover Park Group are working the $9B acquisition of Safeway by Cerberus Capital Management and the private equity firm's Albertsons operation.
The plan joins No. 5 supermarket chain Albertsons with the second biggest, Safeway, to create a giant with more than 2,400 stores and 250K workers.
Safeway CEO Robert Edwards will helm the merged company with Albertsons CEO in the executive chairman slot.
Cerberus’ collection of supermarket brands also include Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Tom Thumb, Vons, Shaw’s ACME Star Market and Amigos.
Christine Wilcox, VP of communications and public affairs for Albertsons Stores, said WS and Glover Park are advising the deal.
Grocery rival Kroger reportedly mulled a Safeway bid. The Cincinnati giant may make an offer as the Safeway/Cerberus tie-up agreement includes a 21-day “go-shop” period, calling for other bidders.
Executive VP Peter Duda and senior VP Liz Cohen of WS work the Cerberus side. Audrey Cooling, senior VP of strategic communications for Glover Park, leads the assignment for her firm.
Brian Dowling, VP of public affairs, and Teena Massingill, director of corporate PA, head communications for Safeway on the deal.
WS is part of Interpublic. Glover Park is owned by WPP Group.
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