As the fate of the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger looms, the grocery industry has seen a steady drumbeat of merger and acquisition activity so far in 2024. 

Many of those deals have involved regional chains snapping up smaller chains, such as Hy-Vee buying Strack & Van Til, a 22-store grocery chain in northwest Indiana, or SpartanNash acquiring three-store Wisconsin grocery chain Metcalfe’s Market.

Regional grocers, especially, are facing pressure not just from the possibility of a larger national competitor, but also from the ascent of discount grocers and increasing focus on food by mass retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target. 

Industry experts have pointed to M&A as one move that can help companies scale up and boost operational efficiencies, which can then give them greater leverage when negotiating with suppliers. Deals can also help a grocer expand into a new market — like Hy-Vee did with its acquisition. 

Here’s a look at some of the top deals among supermarkets so far this year.