Haggen Stores Begin Operating as Standalone Albertsons Unit
Fifteen Haggen Northwest Fresh stores began their first day of operation on June 2 as a standalone business unit in the Albertsons Cos. family of banners.
“Founded in Bellingham in 1933, Haggen is here to stay in the Northwest,” noted John Clougher, who will continue to lead the 15 Haggen stores as GVP and general manager. “Our friendly employees are as passionate as ever about providing our guests the highest quality local products and exceptional service. Our support for regional farms, ranches and fisheries underpins our commitment to a sustainable local food economy. We look forward to serving our loyal guests and inviting our neighbors in to see how we will continue to evolve and invest in these communities.”
A decentralized organization, Albertsons invests in its local operations and allows them to make their own decisions while still leveraging the scale of a large company.
“We are committed to investing in Haggen’s brand and stores, and applying our proven playbook to foster continued growth of its deep roots in the Northwest,” noted Bob Miller, chairman and CEO of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons. “This is a great opportunity to grow a brand that shares many of our values, including offering exceptional service and the best in fresh, local products.”
The 15 Haggen Northwest Fresh locations comprising the core stores that will operate as a standalone business are in the cities of Auburn, Bellingham, Burlington, Ferndale, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Snohomish, Stanwood and Woodinville, Wash.
In March, Albertsons Companies revealed that it had signed an agreement to acquire 14 Haggen stores that will transition back into its Seattle and Portland operating divisions under the Albertsons banner in the coming weeks. These stores were acquired by Haggen from Albertsons in 2015.
Albertsons operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 18 separate banners, including Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Star Market, United and, most recently, Safeway, Tom Thumb, Randalls and Vons.