SALT LAKE CITY -
Albertson's grocery stores are officially on their way out of Utah. Salt Lake City based Associated Foods Stores, Inc. announced Monday morning that the acquisition of 34 Albertson's stores was complete. The new stores will be called Fresh Market and workers began switching signs and products immediately. Dick King, Fresh Market President, said Monday morning, "we just took them over, starting last night at 6 p.m. A lot of work has been done. So, it's exicting, a lot of hard work but a lot left to be done."
King said shoppers will start noticing changes immediately.
"I think you'll find quality products in our perimeter departments, our fresh departments," King said. "You'll see our Western Family products on our shelves and on display in the stores and quality and good selection in there."
Western Family products are already found in the 22 grocery stores previously owned by Associated Foods including Macey's, Lin's, Dick's and Dan's. King cut up an Albertson's discount card at the press conference on Monday. He announced that the new Fresh Market stores won't require a discount card, "you don't need a card to shop with us to get the pricing. The price you see on the shelf is the price that will ring up at the check stand for you."
King also said, for a limited time, shoppers can turn in their existing discount card for a free bag of Western Family sugar.
With increased competition and a sluggish economy many people wonder why Associated Foods would buy the Albertson's stores? King said it made sense for them but did acknowledge the market pressure, "we have a lot of people trying to sell groceries in the stores, dollar stores, convenience stores. We compete against a wide array of competitors out there so we have to find our niche, what fits for us."
King said all store level employees were offered jobs with Market Fresh while some office staff was not. He said many of the Albertson's office staff would have duplicated office staff at the existing Associated Foods headquarters.
King hopes to have all 34 stores fully converted to Fresh Market stores by early April. There are a few Albertson's stores in Utah that were not bought by Associated Foods and will keep the Albertson's nameplate.
FOX 13's Kirk Yuhnke reports.
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King said shoppers will start noticing changes immediately.
"I think you'll find quality products in our perimeter departments, our fresh departments," King said. "You'll see our Western Family products on our shelves and on display in the stores and quality and good selection in there."
Western Family products are already found in the 22 grocery stores previously owned by Associated Foods including Macey's, Lin's, Dick's and Dan's. King cut up an Albertson's discount card at the press conference on Monday. He announced that the new Fresh Market stores won't require a discount card, "you don't need a card to shop with us to get the pricing. The price you see on the shelf is the price that will ring up at the check stand for you."
King also said, for a limited time, shoppers can turn in their existing discount card for a free bag of Western Family sugar.
With increased competition and a sluggish economy many people wonder why Associated Foods would buy the Albertson's stores? King said it made sense for them but did acknowledge the market pressure, "we have a lot of people trying to sell groceries in the stores, dollar stores, convenience stores. We compete against a wide array of competitors out there so we have to find our niche, what fits for us."
King said all store level employees were offered jobs with Market Fresh while some office staff was not. He said many of the Albertson's office staff would have duplicated office staff at the existing Associated Foods headquarters.
King hopes to have all 34 stores fully converted to Fresh Market stores by early April. There are a few Albertson's stores in Utah that were not bought by Associated Foods and will keep the Albertson's nameplate.
FOX 13's Kirk Yuhnke reports.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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