The chief executive officers of Kroger and Albertsons have insisted that merging would allow the two supermarket companies to lower prices and more effectively compete with retail giants like Walmart and Amazon.

Grocers Kroger and Albertsons are selling more than 400 stores and other assets to C&S Wholesale Grocers in an approximately $1.9 billion deal as part of their efforts to complete their merger.

Amazon is looking to offer an average starting wage of more than $18 per hour to fill some transportation and fulfillment roles, with some of the positions receiving up to $22.50 hourly.

Kroger will provide a one-time bonus of $300 to full-time and $150 to part-time employees as a way to help their associates during the coronavirus outbreak. In a release, the company said frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing and customer service associates, will get $300 and every part-time associate in those roles will get $150. “Our associates are working around the clock to keep our stores open for our customers. The company also expanded its COVID-19 emergency leave guidelines to include paid time off for self-isolation and coronavirus symptoms. For those affected by COVID-19, the organization has also made available additional resources through the Kroger Family of Companies Helping Hands fund to provide financial assistance to employees who face hardship due to COVID-19.