Sacramento, CA — A proposal by the nation´s largest grocery store chain to acquire the nation´s second largest chain could have an effect on the Mother Lode.

A report in the Wall Street Journal says Kroger Incorporated of Cincinnati has made an offer to purchase the Albertson´s chain for an undisclosed amount of money.

The acquisition would widen the Kroger presence in Northern California by adding the Albertson´s stores to the chain of Ralph´s store it already owns.

Analysts say the price tag of the deal could be as high as $10 Billion, in addition to the assumption of Albertsons´ $6.5 billion debt.

Kroger is the sixth company to bid on the ailing Albertson´s chain since the company announced its intention to sell last month.