QFC PLANNING TO DOUBLE STORE COUNT

BELLEVUE, Wash. (FNS) -- Quality Food Centers, the 40-store chain based here, plans to double the number of stores it currently operates, concentrating growth in this region, Stuart M. Sloan, chairman and chief executive officer, told last week's shareholders' meeting. "Great growth opportunities" exist in the Puget Sound region, he said. "We can double the number of stores we have." Sloan declined to specify the time it might take to achieve such a goal. QFC currently operates in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. For the immediate future, QFC has "secured a number of sites and we will announce the specifics when the projects become more certain," said Sloan. In 1993, the chain expanded total square footage by 19% by opening five new stores, acquiring and remodeling. Current square footage is in excess of 1 million. Dan Kourkoumelis, president and chief operating officer, told the meeting QFC sees many acquisition opportunities among the approximately 335 stores in the tri-county area that are operated as independents. "Many of those stores have changed hands over the years. About half of our locations were once owned by others, including seven of the last 18 we added," he noted.