SMART & FINAL SHEDS FOOD SERVICE, FOCUSES ON CORE

LOS ANGELES -- Smart & Final here recently said it will be able to focus its attention on its core stores in the West after completing the sales of its businesses in Florida and Northern California.

re performance, and we are taking important steps to improve our financial strength."

Smart & Final said it has completed the sale of its food-service direct-delivery business units and stores in Florida to Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, Mich.; the sale of its Northern California food-service business to Sysco Corp., Houston; and the sale of its Northern California meat-processing and distribution business to Pacific Fresh Seafood, Sacramento, Calif., a subsidiary of Pacific Seafood, Clackamas, Ore., for a combined total of approximately $59 million, plus the buyers' assumption of approximately $25 million in future operating lease obligations.