Dear Valued Corporate Family of Grocers
The following letter from customers of the Albertson’s family of grocers was exclusively “obtained” by Bix dot Blog and is reproduced here in full.
March 2025
Dear Valued Corporate Family of Grocers,
As you know, recent developments indicate the possibility of the United States imposing tariffs on goods imported from several countries on or around April 2, 2025.
We understand this situation may raise concerns for your business operations and the ongoing relationship we share.
To maintain transparency and ensure consistency across our purchasing, we are writing to clarify our policy regarding how these tariffs should be handled in our ongoing relationship.
Your customers rely on you for competitive pricing and quality products, and we hope you are committed to maintaining the value proposition your customers expect. Therefore, with few exceptions, we are not accepting price increases due to tariffs.
Tariff Costs in Pricing
Albertson’s family of grocers are not permitted to include tariff-related costs in price without prior authorization by its customers. Any prices that include such charges without prior authorization will be subject to dispute and may result in payment delays.
Requesting Price Changes Due to Tariffs
If the imposed tariffs result in significantly impacting your costs, per the terms of our existing customer relationship, with 90 days of advance notice, you may request a price change for the goods sold.
To do so, please follow these guidelines:
Submit a formal request: Complete required price change forms for your cost structure and the proposed price adjustment. Provide a detailed explanation of the tariff impact and you must specify the harmonized tariff schedule (HTS) code and country origin of each commodity impacted.
Include supporting documentation: Attach relevant documentation such as tariff notices, import duty receipts, and any other evidence supporting the need for a price change.
Lead time for approval: Allow a minimum of 30 days for the review and approval process once the request is submitted.
Your regular customers will review requests on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not guaranteed and will depend on factors such as relationship terms, market comparisons, and overall financial impact.
Other Important Considerations
Advance notice: Please notify us promptly if you anticipate any delays or disruptions in supply due to changes in tariff regulations.
Communication: Maintain open communication with your customers to address concerns or questions about tariffs and their impact on our relationship.
Compliance: Ensure that all tariff-related adjustments that are approved comply with U.S. regulations and policies to avoid any legal or financial complications.
We value our grocer-customer relationship and appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate these potential changes together.
As more information becomes known about U.S. imposed tariffs, we will provide additional information and direction.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your regular customers.
Thank you for your continued relationship in your pursuit to earn customers for life.
Albertson’s family of grocers customers
(For real, though, here’s the actual source of this letter. All’s fair in love and the costs of living.)