Illinois stands to receive part of a $773 million settlement with Jewel-Osco’s parent company Albertsons, the Illinois Attorney General announced, to resolve claims related to the opioid epidemic.
According to the announcement, the settlement, once final, would require the grocery giant to pay more than $773 million to “address its role in the opioid crisis.”
“This settlement in principle with Albertsons will build upon the important progress we’ve already achieved through previous settlements to fight the ongoing opioid epidemic,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul sid in the announcement. “I will continue to hold companies accountable while ensuring the resources Illinois receives through settlements are distributed equitably throughout the state to help fund the services needed to mitigate the impact of opioid addiction.”
The settlement, agreed to in-principal, only applies to states where Albertsons or Albertsons’-owned grocery stores operate. In Illinois, Albertsons owns Jewel-Osco, but the grocer also owns and operates other stores across the U.S., including Safeway, Randalls, Shaw’s, Acme Markets and United Supermarkets.
The total potential payment each state could get from the settlement wasn’t provided as negotiations still remain, the release said. A report from Crain’s Chicago Business, Illinois expects to receive more than $50 million.
The attorneys general of California, Colorado and Oregon joined Illinois in the negotiations, the release said.
In 2022, Illinois received $760 million as part of a settlement with pharmaceutical distributors sued for their role in the opioid crisis. In 2024, the state received approximately $40 million from a separate settlement with Kroger over their role in the epidemic.
