Haggen to open rebranded Monroe grocery store Saturday

Haggen took possession of the Albertsons in Monroe at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and plans to reopen the rebranded grocery store at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Bellingham-based chain markets locally-sourced, fresh produce, meats and seafood. It has scheduled a public meeting for local farmers and producers to discuss selling their wares at the store at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.

The company also plans donate $1,000 to the Sky Valley Food Bank on Saturday. Haggen expects to give 2 percent of sales the next four Saturdays to four other to-be-determined nonprofits.

The Monroe store at 19881 U.S. 2 was one of the first of 146 grocery stores that the Bellingham-based chain is acquiring as part of the $9.2 billion merger between Safeway and Albertsons.

The Federal Trade Commission required Albertsons and Safeway to sell 168 supermarkets to settle charges that the merger would be “anticompetitive,” or reduce competition and lead to higher prices and less innovation.

Haggen acquired 146 of the 168 supermarkets. Associated Food Stores bought eight stores in Montana and Wyoming, Associated Wholesale Grocers/Minyards acquired 12 stores in Texas, and SuperValu acquired two stores in Washington.

The FTC approved the divestiture Jan. 27, and the merger of Albertsons and Safeway was completed on Jan. 30, according to a news release.

The 146 stores that Haggen is taking over are in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona. With the acquisition, Haggen will expand from 18 stores with 16 pharmacies to 164 stores with 106 pharmacies. Of those, 26 stores are located in Washington.

Haggen will convert stores from north to south, with a few exceptions, according to the news release. By July 2015, all 146 stores will be rebranded as Haggen stores.

Haggen is converting three other stores in Snohomish and Island counties to its brand. All three of those stores are scheduled to be completed in March. Those stores are: Safeway, 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett; Albertsons, 17520 Highway 9, Snohomish; Safeway, 31565 Highway 20 No. 1, Oak Harbor.