Ralphs

I was very much interested as I read Robert A. Jones’ essay, “The Attack of the Stealth Ralphs” (June 7). Don’t get me wrong. Ralphs has always been a good market. I started shopping there with my mother more than 60 years ago.

However, as Ralphs has taken over Hughes, I figured there would be a number of changes, one of those being close-outs on certain food products. There was a Quaker cereal which I could only buy at Hughes, and Ralphs has seemingly cut it out now. The next thing may be a favorite soup of mine only carried by Hughes.

First, it was Alpha Beta markets and now it is Hughes. If the number of markets now owned by Ralphs (nearly 400) in Southern California doesn’t represent a monopoly (shades of John D. Rockefeller with Standard Oil), then I don’t know what one is.

I am surprised that the Federal Trade Commission hasn’t taken action.

HAROLD E. PHELPS JR.

Alhambra