IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Haggen, the regional grocery store chain that made a major move into California earlier this year that has not gone according to plan, will close or sell 16 stores
throughout the state.
None of the company’s five Inland Empire store are scheduled to be closed or will change hands, according a statement released Friday.
The move is meant to streamline and improve the company’s operations.
“Haggen’s goal going forward is to ensure a stable, healthy company that will benefit our customers, associates, vendors, creditors, stakeholders as well as the communities we serve,” said Bill Shanger, Haggen’s chief executive officer in the Pacific Northwest said in the statement. “By making the tough choice to close and sell some stores, we will be able to invest in stores that have the potential to thrive under the Haggen banner.”
Haggen added nearly 100 stores in California between March and May of this year, and since then some of those locations have struggled. The Bellingham, Wash.-based chain also plans to close or sell stores in Arizona, Oregon and Washington, according to the statement.
