Kroger reportedly in talks to combine with Albertsons

Kroger is reportedly in talks to combine with Albertsons, according to a Bloomberg report. 

An agreement could be reached as soon as this week, people familiar with the matter said. No final decisions have been made and talks could still be delayed or falter, and the exact structure and price of the deal couldn’t immediately be learned, according to the report. 

[Read more: Kroger embarks on hiring spree]

Kroger is the largest supermarket operator in the country with about two dozen banners, including Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, Harris Teeter and its namesake brand. It has nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states and about 420,000 employees. The company trails behind Walmart, which is the top grocer in the U.S. by revenue.

Albertsons is made up of 20 banners, including Safeway, Acme and Tom Thumb. It has more than 2,200 supermarkets in 34 states and Washington, D.C. Albertsons has 290,000 employees, according to its website.

[Read more: Albertsons posts Q1 results]

Kroger is the larger of the two companies, with a market cap of about $32 billion. Albertsons’ market cap is about $15 billion, according to a CNBC report.

The two companies were not immediately available to respond to DSN's requests for comment. 

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.