Overview

• Albertsons, North America's second-largest supermarket chain, has implemented a formal policy barring suppliers from passing tariff-related costs onto the company without prior authorization.
• Suppliers must provide detailed evidence and submit requests for price increases at least 90 days in advance, with a 30-day review process that does not guarantee approval.
• Unauthorized tariff-related charges in supplier invoices will be disputed by Albertsons, potentially leading to payment delays.
• The policy comes as President Trump's sweeping import tariffs, including a 10% baseline on most goods and a 145% levy on Chinese imports, continue to disrupt supply chains and raise costs.
• Critics, including researcher Matt Stoller, warn that Albertsons' approach could push suppliers into financial peril, while Walmart and Amazon pursue alternative strategies to mitigate tariff impacts.