Albertsons announces new operating model, president’s retirement after weak Q1

Key Points:

• Albertsons is restructuring its operations by consolidating 11 divisions into four regional regions and centralizing center store merchandising to improve accountability and execution in key customer areas such as fresh service and local merchandising.
• President and CFO Sharon McCollam plans to retire later this year but will remain in her role until a successor is named and then serve as an advisor until fiscal year-end 2027.
• The changes coincide with a nearly 1% drop in comparable-store sales and flat net sales growth in Q1 fiscal 2026, prompting Albertsons to lower its same-store sales forecast for the year to a decline of 0.5% to 1.5%.
• CEO Susan Morris emphasized reallocating investments to lower prices to boost traffic and loyalty over time, while expecting suppliers to share a substantial portion of the cost to maintain competitive pricing.
• Albertsons is actively seeking a transformational leader with strong financial and strategic skills to succeed McCollam and drive sustainable growth and long-term value.