CHICAGO MARKET IS DOMINICK'S PRIORITY

DES PLAINES, Ill. -- Dominick's Finer Foods here, readying for new management, will put top priority on expansion within its existing markets versus heading into new areas.

the Chicago area.

"We have a lot of opportunities remaining in Chicago that we need to take," he said in a presentation here. "Opening stores outside of the Chicagoland area is not a priority at this point."

Josephs was responding to reports that the chain is considering an entry into the Milwaukee area. As reported, Dominick's was acquired by an investment group that includes Yucaipa Cos., Los Angeles, and members of the chain's senior management team.

Joseph's, who spoke at the Grocery Manufacturers Sales Executives Club of Chicagoland here, said Dominick's will also place a greater emphasis on economies of scale in buying. "You cannot afford to have national deals that we cannot participate in," he stressed to vendors. "Please remember that our buying power will go up by over $7 billion annually (when Dominick's $2-billion volume is combined with Yucaipa's retail base of $7 billion). If there are national deals, we need to have them available."