Raley's Sells New Mexico Stores

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Raley's here last week said it has agreed to sell its 10 New Mexico stores to Albertsons LLC for an undisclosed price.

The sale is expected to be completed in August, after which the stores will be re-bannered with the Albertsons name, the company said.

Nine of the Raley's stores are in Albuquerque, including one unit that is closed, and one is in Taos.

Albertsons LLC already operates 28 stores in New Mexico, including eight in Albuquerque, “so the addition of these stores will provide the company with the increased operational synergies that result from having a larger regional operation,” said Bob Miller, chief executive officer of Albertsons LLC. “Over the past year we have been able to provide the residents of Albuquerque an improved shopping experience and look forward to our expanded presence in the community.”

Raley's has operated in New Mexico since 1999, when it acquired 27 stores from Albertsons, including 19 in Las Vegas and eight in New Mexico. At the time, Raley's said it had to take the New Mexico stores to get the Las Vegas stores, although a spokeswoman said shortly after the sale that the company had “fallen in love with Albuquerque.”

Raley's sold the Las Vegas stores to Kroger in 2002.

Commenting last week on the pending sale of the New Mexico stores, Bill Coyne, president and CEO, Raley's, said, “It was a difficult decision because our incredible employees in New Mexico have worked hard to make those stores successful and memorable for customers, but it is a decision that will bring further strength and continued growth to our company.”

After the sale, Raley's will operate 130 stores in Northern California and northern Nevada. Albertsons LLC currently operates 362 stores in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming and Utah.