Fred Meyer, Safeway Disclose Huge Contributions to OLCC Privatization Measure

By NIGEL JAQUISS

Two grocery chains pursuing the privatization of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission today disclosed $1.156 million in new contributions to committees aimed at placing the issue on the November ballot.

The privatization campaign, Oregonians for Competition, has now hit $2.01 million in contributions. The group has several initiative committees moving forward with various draft versions of a privatization measure.

Today, Fred Meyer, a subsidiary of Cinncinnati-based Kroger, contributed $250,000 each to two different committees. The donations bring Fred Meyer's contributions to the liquor privatization effort to $1 million, including money the company gave earlier in March.

$814,000

In 2011, a similar campaign in Washington—which did result in privatization—saw the expenditure of more than $30 million, two-thirds of that from Costco alone.

WWeek 2015

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