This closure is part of a larger company-wide decision by Kroger, Fred Meyer’s parent company, to optimize operations and ensure long-term business health. However, the immediate impact on both dedicated union members and the South End community is undeniable and raises serious questions about corporate responsibility.
“The news of the 72nd and Pacific Fred Meyer closure is a heavy blow, not just to the hundreds of hardworking UFCW Local 367 members who tirelessly served this community for decades, but for the entire South End neighborhood,” said Michael Hines, President “Our members are facing uncertainty about their livelihoods and the community is losing a vital source of groceries, prescriptions, and essential services.”
According to the South End Neighborhood Council of Tacoma, the area where Kroger is closing its doors has been officially recognized as a food desert by both the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the United States Department of Agriculture Food Access Atlas. Community members must walk or take the bus to shop for food or get vital medical prescriptions. This store closure will disproportionately impact low-income seniors and working families throughout the area…