Albertson’s sold

March 6th, 2013 · 7 Comments

By reporter Steven Smalley

The Albertson’s chain of grocery stores, one of which sits in our little neighborhood, is in the process of being sold to an investment consortium for a reported $3.3 billion. Minneapolis-based Supervalu, the current owners of the supermarket group, announced the sale which is expected to close March 21.

Previously, Supervalu had Albertson’s broken up into two separate divisions. The sale of the chain will unify all stores into one entity called Albertson’s, LLC.

What is known about the future is the name will remain the same. All outlets will be branded, Albertson’s.

Stores included in the sale are Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Markets.

Those who spoke to Magnolia Voice on behalf of Albertson’s said more information about the future will be forthcoming once the sale is final.

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Dick Gozinya

HALLELUJAH! All I can say is that whatever changes are on the way, I am sure they are for the better.
ericsmith

So what I am hearing is that there are no dreams come true here…no improved quality, no store we could walk to with decent vegetables or fresh fish or meat, no quality deli or decent fresh breads. Just a name change? What a spectacular spot it could be for a store which would attract all of us who drive elsewhere rather than buy sub-Safeway quality. Surely there is something between the vanity food stores with inflated prices and sub-marginal “Wonder Bread” stores like Albertson’s? If I want a quality orange…I am still better off price-wise in terms of quality at Fred Meyer’s than anywhere else. They don’t have a lot of variety, but they don’t have wilting produce like Albertson’s. I used to drive all the way to Shoreline for the beautiful produce at Central Market but save time these days. A shame.
magman

Will the sale include all the fly’s in the deli enclosure?
guest

I never cease to be disappointed by the local Albertson’s. For some reason I occasionally still patronize it. I feel like I should go on a campaign, get everyone I know to stop going for a couple weeks, maybe that will push them over the edge. The produce is below average. There is never anyone in the deli. The deli meat tastes a few days old, right away. The ready-made sandwiches contain less meat and harder bread than other Albertson’s. The prices are not competitive. The packaged meat (Chicken, etc) is fine, but not as good as any other store. The milk options are weak. The whole store feels stale.

The Met and Whole Foods are a bit too expensive for a family’s routine weekly needs (at least for us). I hate the QFC parking lot and it is very cramped in the store as well, although they have good bread options. We go to the Safeway in Ballard, not that far away, pretty good produce, good cuts of meat available and a responsive deli, all at reasonable prices, and there is the below deck parking during the rain. Hard to pass up Trader Joes on the way there though. Fred Meyer is better in quality than the Safeway, but a bit pricier and we always end up walking around and buying stuff we don’t need.

I think a smaller QFC/Safeway where the Albertson’s is now would end up taking over the local market. Hey- a gal can dream.

Valentijn

Stay out of the deli. I worked there temporarily on loan from another Albertsons, and there was virtually no basic hygiene going on. Two very long-term and lazy workers that do very little and the management won’t get rid of or re-assign.

eternal

I was in the Albertson’s the other day and the seafood guy walked up to me, said he had just started working there and wondered what items they should stock more of. I was a bit shocked – I didn’t know where to begin. Anyway, I thought that was nice…

Still, the Albertson’s really is terrible, other than the location. I found spices cheaper at met market and when I went in the other day they had no dill and the parsley was looked terrible. This along with the lack of produce and good bread and I’m not sure why I ever go back….
guest

It’s dingy, and what no one seems to realize (investors, etc) is that a good non-supermarket, quality grocery store is the absolute focal point of a small community center like Magnolia Village. Magnolia Village is almost defined by the lack of a quality grocery. It makes all the other shops seem equally pat their prime. A new or refurbished store there would buoy all surrounding stores and would change the local landscape completely. But I have no illusions of a change anytime soon because there are always lines at the register when I go into Albertsons.