Albertsons Cos., the grocery-chain operator backed by Cerberus Capital Management, has held preliminary talks to merge with Sprouts Farmers Market Inc., people with knowledge of the matter said.
The discussions, which took place in recent weeks, are at an early stage and may not lead to a deal, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing private details. The talks have involved a plan to take organic grocer Sprouts private and add it to Albertsons’ portfolio, which includes eponymous grocery stores and the Safeway store brand.
Shares in Sprouts were little changed at $21.99 at 10:01 a.m. in New York, valuing the company at about $3 billion. They earlier rose to $23.07. The Phoenix-based company’s stock climbed 23 percent last week.
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