Raley’s brings acquired Scolari’s stores under its banner

Raley’s plans to begin converting acquired Scolari’s Food & Drug stores in Nevada to its banner today and to finish the process by June 10.

The West Sacramento, Calif.-based grocer said Monday that it’s taking over operations of five Scolari’s Food & Drug stores and one Sak ‘N Save store, purchased from Scolari’s in March, on a staggered schedule. Each of the stores will be closed two days for the changeover and then reopen as Raley’s locations.

As previously disclosed, the Sak ‘N Save store will retain its banner but reopen under Raley’s leadership as part of the company’s Food Source division.

Raley’s said it will remerchandise the new stores with enhanced offerings in fresh meat, produce and foodservice. Prepared food items will range from rotisserie chicken and tri-tip beef to Raley’s ready-to-go meals and in-house prepared salads.

In addition, the stores will feature Raley’s handcrafted cakes, fresh fruit desserts and expanded line of single-serve desserts, as well as Raley’s private-label products on grocery shelves.

“Customers will see an immediate change in the product offerings at an affordable price,” Raley’s president Keith Knopf said in a statement. “We believe customers will be impressed with Raley’s enhanced prepared food offerings with quality ingredients. We hope to gain their trust and loyalty as they try our offerings.”

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Ninety-five percent of Scolari’s employees who applied for jobs at Raley’s have been hired, and four of the new stores will be managed by the same leadership, according to Raley’s.

Customers at the new stores also will be able to sign up in-store or online for the Raley’s Something Extra loyalty program, which provides personalized offers plus one point for every penny spent, which is returned as money quarterly for purchases in-store. Each store, too, will hold Raley’s “$5 Monday” savings event and have a dedicated Facebook page for customers to keep up with new product offerings, store news and savings opportunities.

The five Scolari’s stores are in Reno (two locations), Fernley, Yerington and Tonopah. The Sak ‘N Save, which will be the first to close (May 21) and reopen (May 24), is located in Reno.

Once the transition is completed, Raley’s will operate 128 stores overall in California and Nevada under the Raley’s, Bel Air Market, Nob Hill Foods, Food Source and Sak ‘N Save banners.