Haggen Food & Pharmacy, a Washington state grocery chain that has struggled locally since taking over dozens of California Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores earlier this year, will close or sell 16 locations in the state, including four in the Valley. Haggen had converted 83 Albertsons, Vons and Pavilion stores in California to Haggen grocers over the past several months. The Northwest regional chain acquired the stores after regulators ordered grocery giants Albertsons and Safeway to sell off some locations before they could merge. The deal transformed Haggen from 18 stores and 16 pharmacies in Washington and Oregon, to 146 stores and 106 pharmacies in five states. And that appears to have been too big a jump for the company, which announced the closures late Friday. In addition to the 16 closures in L.A., including the locations in Simi Valley, Newbury Park and Santa Clarita, the grocer will be closing five stores in Arizona, five in Oregon and one in Washington, bringing its grand total to 27 closures – though Haggen executives said more could follow. “Looking ahead, we will work hard every single day to earn the trust and business of our guests,” said John Clougher, the grocer’s chief executive for the Pacific Northwest region. “And we will engage in lively discussions about how we can improve.” The company said it has not determined how many jobs will be lost and affected due to the sales, but said it will begin shutting down stores within the next 60 days. Local Haggen locations not yet on the chopping block include locations in Burbank, Santa Monica, West L.A., Lomita, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance and Redondo Beach.
