6 • September | October 2026 • abasto.com Leadership Change at the Top McCollam’s departure adds a second layer of change to an already intense period for the company. McCollam joined Albertsons in 2021 and has served as both president and chief financial officer, guiding the com- pany’s financial strategy, digital in- vestments, and supply chain efforts, according to the announcement of his retirement. He will remain in his position until Al- bertsons appoints his successor, then continue in an advisory role through Fe- bruary 2027 to facilitate the transition. Morris acknowledged McCollam’s role in strengthening the company’s financial foundation and thanked him for his five years of service. Albertsons has not provided a ti- meline for selecting his replacement; it only confirmed that the search is already underway. Sales Pressure and a More Cautious Consumer ACI Edge did not emerge in a vacuum. Albertsons reported its results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, which showed a 0.8% decline in same-store sales. Net sales rose 0.2% to nearly $24.9 billion, driven primarily by fuel revenue, according to the earnings report. Net income fell sharply, from $236.4 million to $84.7 million com- pared to the previous year. Digital sales grew 13%, and the pharmacy business continued to ex- pand despite challenges stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act. Morris did not downplay the situa- tion: “While these results fell short of our expectations, they underscored the need to act more quickly,” he said in the earnings release. That urgency led Albertsons to cut its full-year forecast. The company now expects adjusted EBITDA of be- tween $3,550 million and $3,625 million, down from the previous pro- jection of $3,850 million to $3,925 million, and it also lowered its fore- cast for adjusted earnings per share. A Fresh Start After the Failed Merger The restructuring also comes amid the fallout from the failed merger be- tween Albertsons and Kroger. Regu- lators blocked the $ 24.6 billion deal in late 2024 on antitrust grounds, and Albertsons has since sued Kroger over a disputed $600 million termi- nation fee. The case continues this year in the Delaware Chancery Court. Albertsons’ most recent earnings report cites legal costs related to the merger as one of the factors putting pressure on its margins—a sign that the fallout from that attempted deal has not yet fully dissipated. With the merger off the table, ACI Edge reads like Albertsons’ answer to a simple question: How does a company of this size grow on its own? Fewer divisions, a single marketing team, and the search for a new CFO are the first steps. Whether these lead to stronger sales will become clear in the coming quarters. • Continuation of page 4 Americas Food and Beverage Special Insert