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The Federal Trade Commission is accepting public comments on an application from SuperValu Inc. to sell one of two supermarkets it bought when Safeway and Albertsons merged in 2015 and were required by the agency to divest 168 stores.

Under the FTC’s final decision and order in that merger case, SuperValu is required for three years to obtain Commission approval before selling any stores it bought as part of the divestiture. SuperValu also is required to sell only to a buyer approved by the Commission.

SuperValu requests approval to sell Albertson’s Store No. 477, in Lake Stevens, Washington, to Saar’s Inc. The divestiture application notes that Saar’s is a value-driven supermarket retailer headquartered in Auburn, Washington, with nine stores in the greater Puget Sound area. It describes Saar’s as having the financial strength, operational capability, and strategic direction necessary to operate the Lake Stevens store competitively.

The Commission will decide whether to approve the proposed sale after expiration of a 30-day public comment period, which ends on March 14, 2017. Written comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Comments can also be filed electronically. (FTC File No. 141 0108, Docket No. C-4504; the staff contact is Dan Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526)

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