NEWS WATCH 1996-12-02

Albertson's, Boise, Idaho, last week said it plans to open 17 stores and remodel nine in the fourth quarter. The 811-unit chain reported that it opened 22 stores and remodeled 14 in the third quarter ended Oct. 31, bringing its year-to-date total up to 53 new stores and 33 remodels.

ear "because people offered us too much money not to sell." Kohlberg bought 16 Petrini's, a distribution company, 10 New Deal Markets and three warehouse stores in 1995 in acquiring Bay Area Foods from Provigo, Montreal. The distribution operation later was sold to United Grocers, Portland, Ore.; the warehouse units and three Petrini's were shut. Since August, Kohlberg has sold 10 other Petrini's: one to Safeway and nine to Certified Grocers of California. Pelletier said Kohlberg will keep the New Deal units, which serve a Hispanic clientele.

American Stores Co., Salt Lake City, reported last week that it opened or acquired 12 supermarkets, closed six and remodeled 15 in the third quarter ended Nov. 2. Over nine months, it opened or acquired 22 supermarkets, shut 27 and remodeled 31. Including drug stores, American opened 36 new stores, closed 15 and remodeled 48 in the quarter. Capital expenditures were $237.9 million in the quarter and $675.4 million in the nine months. For the year, plans call for capital spending of $900 million, including 100 new stores and 85 remodels, American said.

Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville Ark., said it plans to double its share repurchase program, raising the total authorization to $400 million. Wal-Mart has acquired about $181 million in stock under the program. The shares repurchased account for less than 1% of the roughly 2.3 billion shares outstanding, Wal-Mart said.