SALT LAKE CITY — Associated Foods Stores here said Wednesday it plans to close three of its Fresh Market stores later this month.
The three stores — two here and one in Provo — were among the group of 34 Albertsons the member-owned cooperative purchased last November from Minneapolis-based Supervalu. The closures are slated for Friday, Oct. 29.
According to Neil Berube, president of Fresh Markets, “We knew when we purchased the [Albertsons] stores that there would be challenges with some locations. Closing stores is never an easy decision, and we are sensitive to the communities that will be affected by this announcement.”
He said Associated Foods will not be able to offer positions to all store employees affected by the closures “due to the current status of the economy, [though] we hope there will be opportunities for some of the team.”
He did not indicate if other locations were candidates for closure. “We will continue to make decisions that will provide for the success of the company and its team members,” Berube said.
Besides the 34 Fresh Markets, Associated operates 22 other corporate stores under separate banners, including Macey's, Dan's, Lin's and Dick's Markets.
