Tag Archives: albertsons

Business/Economics

Albertsons Vons Safeway update, 14 February 2015: Stores being used to spread Measles?

Ventura County health administrators, in California, are now warning that measles has been detected in dozens of restaurants and stores, including a Vons and a Albertson’s grocery stores, both in Oxnard.

The new owner of Safeway, Cerberus Albertsons, is being forced to negotiate with unionized Safeway employees in California.   United Food & Commercial Workers Local 8 Golden State says their contracts expired and they “anticipate a successful resolution.”

U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar is reducing the amount of a class action settlement against Safeway.  It’s from a lawsuit that was filed back in 2006 which said Safeway violated their contracted prices for home delivery service!  Basically Safeway successfully argued a technical point to get the damages reduced.

Updated list:

Arizona: In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen. I suspect that eventually some will be shutdown, it doesn’t make sense to have that many grocery stores of the same brand in one place.

California: Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore to be shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway issued a WARN saying an additional 18 HQ employees will be laid off in March.  San Diego Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.  Six Vons and Albertsons in San Louis Obispo County to become Haggen.  25 Vons and Albertsons stores in San Diego County will become Haggen between March and May.  Nine Albertsons and Vons stores in Ventura County to become Haggen.  28 Albertsons, Pavilions and Vons stores to become Haggen in Los Angeles City.  Vons in Palm Desert to become Haggen.  Pavillions in Rancho Mirage to become Haggen.  A total of 83 California stores will become Haggen.

Colorado: Colorado Springs Albertsons shutting down in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Oregon: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons being shutdown on 16 February, being taken over by Haggen in March. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March.  Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen.  Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.        

Texas: In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons is expected to make the changeover to Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets.

Washington: In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June.  Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February.  Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March.  Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June.  Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February.  Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March.  Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.   

Starbucks included in sale!

Business/Economics

Albertsons Safeway update, 13 February 2015: Starbucks included in sale!

Pennsylvania based Merion Capital is suing to force Cerberus-Albertsons to pay even more for Safeway.  Merion Capital owned 4% of Safeway and doesn’t think Cerberus paid enough and is now exercising its appraisal rights.  Three other hedge funds, Magnetar Financial, Muirfield Capital and Brigade Capital, are reportedly about to make the same appraisal rights claim against Cerberus.

It’s been revealed that the Haggen takeover of 146 Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores, across five states, will include at least 78 Starbucks coffee shops.

Federal government created retirement insurance policing agency Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation forced Cerberus to pay $212-million USD into the Safeway retirement plan.  That’s on top of the mandated $48-million.  The Wall Street Journal said Cerberus administrators refused to comment to them about it.

Updated list:

Arizona: In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen. I suspect that eventually some will be shutdown, it doesn’t make sense to have that many grocery stores of the same brand in one place.

California: Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore to be shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015. San Diego Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.

Colorado: Colorado Springs Albertsons shutting down in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Oregon: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons being shutdown on 16 February, being taken over by Haggen in March. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March.

Texas: In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons is expected to make the changeover to Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets.

Washington: In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store.  Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons.  Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March.  Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March.   Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June.

“That’s why we’re closing it.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

Albertsons Safeway closings update, 10 February 2015: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

More shutdowns of Alberstons, Safeway, Vons, United Supermarkets, etc grocery stores being revealed, now that the Cerberus Albertsons hostile $9.2-billion USD takeover (some reports say $8-billion while others say it was $9.8-billion) of the country’s second largest grocery store owner, Safeway, was finalized at the end of January.

Both Safeway and Albertsons were originally founded in Idaho (Safeway in American Falls in 1915 & Albertsons in Boise in 1939).  Safeway moved its HQ to California and Albertsons was taken over by evil Cerberus.

There are reports that Safeway’s Waterfront Bistro brand will actually be expanded.  Waterfront Bistro is a grocery chain that focuses on seafood.

Cerberus Albertsons also took over United Supermarkets.

Reports say the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ordered Cerberus to sell off 168 stores, in the name of maintaining competition.  It was motivated by legal action by attorney’s for Safeway, and the state attorney generals of Washington and Nevada.

Cerberus has sold off 12 Safeway and Albertsons stores to Texas based RLS Supermarkets, who will change the names to Minyard Sun Fresh Market.  In Texas Safeway stores are called Tom Thumb.

Cerberus has sold 146 Vons and Albertsons stores to a Washington based company called Haggen. The affected stores are located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.  Haggen administrators say the switchover to Haggen stores will take place during the next 120 days.

Arizona: In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen.  I suspect that eventually some will be shutdown, it doesn’t make sense to have that many grocery stores of the same brand in one place.

California: Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore to be shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost!  The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus.  Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost.  Pleasanton Safeway HQ will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015.   San Diego Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.

Colorado: Colorado Springs Albertsons shutting down in March.  Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Oregon: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons being shutdown on 16 February.  Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.”  This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city!  In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen.  Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March.

Texas: In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market.  Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system.  A second East Dallas Alberstons is expected to make the changeover to Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February.  Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons.  One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway.  Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets.

Washington: In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store.

Cerberus sells-off California & Idaho based grocery stores! 

Business/Economics

Cerberus sells-off California & Idaho based grocery stores! 146 stores affected, shutdowns already announced!

27 January 2015 (19:48 UTC-07 Tango 26 January 2015)/06 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/07 Bahman 1393/08 Yi-Chou (12th month) 4712

In 2014 evil Cerberus Capital concluded a hostile $9.2-billion USD takeover of California based Safeway.  The hostile takeover, which was challenged in court, was done through Idaho based Albertsons.  Safeway was the second largest grocery store owner in the U.S., the Safeway family of grocery stores include California’s iconic Vons, and Mexico’s Casa Ley.  It should be noted that part of the hostile takeover agreement is that Cerberus must sell off Safeway owned grocery store chains.   Now Cerberus has sold off dozens of Vons.

In January 2013 evil Cerberus Capital Management became sole owner of Idaho based Albertsons. 14 stores were shut down in 2013,  another 26 Albertsons were shutdown by the end of February 2014.  Now, Cerberus has sold off dozens more Albertsons stores, as a result of the takeover of Safeway.

Cerberus has sold 146 Vons and Albertsons stores to a Washington based company called Haggen.  The affected stores are located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.  Already WARNs (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications) have been issued in California announcing the shutdown of several grocery stores.

This is interesting because at the beginning of January a Haggen spokeswoman said this: “The stores will remain open during the conversions and there are no plans to close any stores. In California, I would expect to see conversions more toward July.”-Deborah Pleva

Oregon: Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, due to the takeover by Cerberus owned Albertsons. 91 jobs lost by March.

California WARN list:

Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore, shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost!

The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost.  Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus.

Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown on 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost.

Pleasanton Safeway headquarters will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015.

San Diego Albertsons, shutdown on 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.

Albertsons shutting down?

Pocatello’s Old Fred Meyer & Albertsons…did not close down in the 1990s

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Economic recovery for Pocatello? Some things aren’t as they appear!

20 July 2013 (17:48 UTC-07 Tango)/12 Ramadan 1434/29 Tir 1391/13 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711
Click the pics to make bigger

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Economic Recovery? WinCo about to close Store number 5 in Pocatello! Blame massive company expansion! Proof that employees know how to run a company better than elites!

13 February 2013, a visit to your local Pocatello, Idaho, WinCo grocery store will reveal shelves that are fast becoming bare.  All orders for Store number 5 have been stopped, the store will cease operations sometime in March.

The Pocatello store was the fifth store to open in Idaho, after Ralph Ward and Bud Williams started the grocery operation back in 1967.  Various stores were called Waremart Food Centers, or Cub Foods until 1999.

The official WinCo web site says the current name stands for Winning Company, but I swear I remember being told, by WinCo employees I knew during the name change, that WinCo was the creation of a school kid who won a contest for coming up with the new name. Supposedly WinCo actually stands for the U.S. states that the grocery chain operated in at that time: Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California and Oregon.

Click pics to make bigger

In 1985 the employees of the company became majority owners in the business.

Since the name change WinCo has been expanding.  That expansion has picked up pace ever since the downfall of competitor Albertsons (once a Idaho based grocery store chain, but not anymore).

Since 2006 Albertsons has been passed around to several new owners (despite the website making it look like it’s still owned by the Albertsons family):  A Minnesota based company called Supervalue, an affiliate of evil Cerberus Capital Management called AB Acquisition, and CVS.  Finally in January 2013 evil Cerberus Capital Management became sole owner (I wouldn’t be surprised if they liquidate).

According to Albertsons’ website they are down to 450 stores across the country (WinCo has a ways to go, with only 85 stores and 14,000+ employees).  But employee owned WinCo is exploding.  In the past ten years they’ve built a giant distribution center south of Boise, added new stores and another distribution center in California, and expanded into Utah. Now Pocatello will get what many loyal WinCo shoppers have been demanding, a giant new WinCo.

But wait, there’s more.  WinCo has announced a new store for Bellingham, Washington, in the Old Joe’s Sporting Goods building (at a cost of $7 million).  WinCo just spent $5.1 million buying land in Gilbert, Arizona. The property is currently a car dealership, but will become WinCo’s fourth store in the Grand Canyon State.

There are some concerns for WinCo, like a lawsuit in Vallejo, California, which is trying to stop the building of a new store based on environmental reasons.  Also, some of WinCo’s new HQ management jumped over from the sinking ship known as Alberstons, which causes many WinCo employees to worry.

I’ve known some WinCo employees who had a tough time dealing with WinCo’s employee policies (which are very strict compared to publicly held companies), but it’s hard to challenge those policies since they are supposedly approved by fellow employees.

Also in California, a mom and pop grocery store in Merced is shutting down, they blame Walmart and WinCo: “Things are changing in the industry. It’s getting harder and harder every year to compete, especially family-owned types of businesses such as ours.”-Gary Lowe, General Manager

In today’s economy an employee owned company is as close as you can get to a family owned operation, and there’s less of a chance the company will be sold off just for the value of its assets (like Sears and Kmart), so my money’s on WinCo (too bad you can’t buy stock in privately held WinCo, lucky employees, and besides I don’t really have any money to invest).

Pocatello’s new WinCo store number 117 was built on the Old Fred Meyer building site (aka Alameda Plaza) right next to a former Albertsons (on the land I used to do property management, for JP Reality who then sold out to General Growth Properties).  Number 117 is at least twice as big as the Old Fred Meyer building.

The New Fred Meyer building is located where the Old Pocatello Mall used to be.  So now Store number 5 will be called the Old WinCo, and the Old Fred Meyer will now be called the New WinCo, and everyone will forget there was an Old Fred Meyer just like they’ve forgotten about the Old Pocatello Mall.

That’s progress!