Haggen Seeks to Sell All Remaining Stores

Following news that bankrupt Haggen would auction most of its recently acquired stores from the Albertsons-Safeway merger and focus on its core profitable locations, it's been reported that the embattled grocer is looking to sell all remaining stores and go out of business.

Haggen has requested to seek "approval of the proposed sale of the Debtors’ Core Stores," according to reports, which include the 31 stores that were originally not for sale amid the divesture – half of which are original Haggen locations, and the other half comprising stores in the northwest acquired from Albertsons-Safeway.

No official buyers have been announced, although reports reveal that 40 bidders are in the running, including Albertsons, which has been named a "baseline bidder" for 36 stores. Other qualified parties include Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market, as well as Smart & Final.

The first of three rounds of bidding took place yesterday; round two is to be held today and round three on Wednesday.  

Haggen has yet to release a statement on this latest development. At press time, the grocer did not respond to a request for comment.