Supermarket competition in the Valley is continuing to grow, and that plethora of options is strongly affecting groceries’ bottom lines.

Grocers are cutting prices to attract more shoppers, and that, at least in part, is bringing the likelihood of consolidation into the picture.

Albertsons is eyeing Phoenix-based Sprouts, with the companies reportedly holding preliminary talks about a merger.

To find out what’s in it for the groceries and consumers, we spoke with Phil Lempert. He’s the editor of Supermarket Guru and an industry analyst.