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Albertson's To Sell 49 Stores To Publix

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By JEROME R. STOCKFISCH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 10, 2008

LAKELAND - Publix Super Markets has acquired more than half of the Albertsons stores in Florida, including 21 in the Tampa Bay area.

At least 121 employees will lose their jobs at an Albertsons distribution center in Plant City. Publix said it would interview Albertsons store workers who want to apply at new Publix stores.

The grocers announced Monday that Publix would take over 49 stores in a deal expected to close in September. Financial details weren't disclosed.

A spokeswoman for Publix, the state's No. 1 grocer with 936 stores, said it was too early to tell which Albertsons stores would be converted and which would be superfluous.

"We're looking at all possibilities moving forward," spokeswoman Maria Brous said.

The move significantly reduces the Albertsons presence locally and statewide - to three stores in the Tampa Bay area and 44 in Florida.

"Our corporate leadership felt this was the best thing in the long-term interest of the company," said Albertson's Inc. spokesman Shane McEntarffer. He said Albertson's will continue to operate its remaining Florida stores with the support of its distribution center in Plant City and division office in Lake Mary.

But Monday, Plant City Mayor Rick Lott received a letter that said Albertson's plans to lay off 121 at the distribution center. The letter, signed by Catherine S. Weil, director of labor relations and employment law for Albertson's, didn't say how many people work at the center.
Albertsons has had a distribution center near Plant City Stadium for 15 years.

The deal with Publix includes four stores in Pensacola, giving the grocer its first exposure in the Panhandle's Escambia County. And it opens up real estate to a company that has resorted to smaller store designs in downtown areas and two-story structures in beach towns such as Treasure Island.

"We are always looking for real estate," Brous said. "Everybody that works in this industry knows it is becoming more and more difficult to acquire land in Florida."

The local Albertsons stores acquired by Publix are in Belleair Bluffs, Bradenton, Clearwater, Hudson, Largo, Palm Harbor, Palmetto, Pinellas Park, Sarasota, Sebring, Seminole, South Pasadena, St. Petersburg and Tampa.
Albertsons employees are not guaranteed jobs with Publix, but spokeswoman Brous said the company would hold job fairs for the affected employees, and all who apply will be interviewed.

Reporter George Wilkens contributed to this report. Jerome R. Stockfisch can be reached at jstockfisch@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-8402.

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