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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild Jr.: Reason to believe ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Reason to believe ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... OUR VIEW Our View: Haggen still at risk Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The recent announcement that Haggen Foods would close 27 stores did not include the recently opened Ashland outlet, but that doesn't mean the local store is safe. Industry analysts interviewed by The Oregonian last week expressed concern that the once small chain based in Bellingham, Wash., may have gotten too big too soon in the competitive grocery market. Haggen had 18 stores when it acquired 146 Albertsons and Safeway stores under a deal overseen by the Federal Trade Commission. Albertsons and Safeway were merging, and federal anti-trust rules required that in some smaller communities, the newly merged company could not keep operating a Safeway and an Albertsons in the same town. Of the 168 stores the newly merged company was required to divest, Haggen wound up buying 146, becoming nine times bigger virtually overnight. What's more, the FTC required Haggen to take over all those stores in just four months. Haggen accepted those terms, which may have been a mistake. In Ashland, Safeway closed for good at 6 p.m. on a Thursday and reopened at 9 a.m. Sunday as Haggen.  The change was not well received here, which apparently mirrored the situation in other markets. Ashland shoppers complained that prices were higher but the merchandise was essentially unchanged.  Time will tell whether the chain can keep moving forward and build market share in its remaining stores. If it can't, and no other company is interested in taking over, Ashland could be left with an empty building instead of a rebranded one. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501