BAKER'S SETS FIVE-UNIT BUY IN OKLAHOMA MARKET ENTRY

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Baker's Supermarkets, Omaha, Neb., said it will enter the Oklahoma marketplace next week with the Nov. 9 acquisition of five independent stores in the state.

The acquisition would be the chain's first step in "a growing supermarket enterprise" there, said Jack Baker, chairman and chief executive officer.

"This is not just about five stores," Baker told SN. "These five stores are the beginning of what we hope is a long-term and viable relationship with Oklahoma shoppers.

"We believe there are significant expansion opportunities for us in Oklahoma, both in terms of building new stores and analyzing acquisition opportunities."

Baker's operates all 18 of its stores in Nebraska, with 14 in the Omaha area. It has been a division of Fleming Cos. here since 1992.

According to a Fleming spokesman, "These five stores are a start for Baker's, the beginning of a strong presence there. Baker's is definitely interested in expanding in Oklahoma through additional acquisitions or new store construction, though we have nothing to announce at this time."

Of the five stores being acquired, four are located here and one is in Lawton, Okla., about 90 miles southwest. They range in size from 53,000 to 62,000 square feet, compared with a range of 40,000 to 75,000 square feet at Baker's, whose current prototype is 70,000 square feet.

Three of the stores formerly operated under the name Megamarket, one is a former IGA unit and the store in Lawton was formerly called Buy for Less. All five were already being supplied by Fleming.

"Growing our company was part of the strategy of being acquired by Fleming," Baker told SN. "Three years ago we acquired seven stores in Nebraska, and with the addition of these five in Oklahoma, we've grown 130% under Fleming's ownership."

Baker declined to disclose his chain's volume or the volume of the five stores being acquired. However, he said the four Oklahoma City stores account for a combined market share of about 8%, compared with about 15% each for Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's and Homeland Stores, based here, with the balance controlled by a variety of independents.

Baker said his company plans to keep the work force intact at the acquired stores.