MODESTO, Calif. — Save Mart Supermarkets here said Monday it expects to convert eight former Albertsons stores in the Monterey, Calif., area to its own banner by the end of this week. Each conversion involves shutting the store for two days before reopening it — to allow the chain to change software systems, lower prices and add Save Mart private-label products. A chain spokeswoman said the company closed four stores Sunday that it expects to reopen tomorrow; it will close the other four stores tonight and expects to reopen them Friday morning. Save Mart acquired 130 stores late last year in northern California and northern Nevada from Albertsons LLC and began the process of converting them in mid-May, with 34 conversions completed prior to this week in the Fresno and Sacramento areas. As SN reported last month, the chain expects to convert the 75 Albertsons stores in the Greater San Francisco Bay area later this summer, probably to a new name.
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