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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Fire guts house, but no one injured Are you glad the Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink is here? Hikers, bikers, riders want to coexist on Ashland Trails Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner Police Reports Education Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner AHS ranked No. 7 by Niche College debt load balloons: What could, should be done? 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BUSINESS Ashland Safeway becomes Haggen's in March Albertson's has to sell some stores after acquiring Safeway, regulators say Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 2:00 am Updated Jan 2, 2015 at 12:34 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 2:00 am Updated Jan 2, 2015 at 12:34 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Ashland's Safeway part of Haggen acquisition • Will plastic bag ban affect you? • Finding local foods at the supermarket • Safeway helps family who lost home to gas fire » Social News Ashland’s Safeway, a boulevard landmark since the 1960s, will get rebranded about March with a big sign of Haggen , its new Washington-based owner. The supermarket will keep its present team of workers and management, honor present union contracts and emphasize environmental sustainability, local produce, with offerings of both conventional and organic produce, much like the present Safeway , a Haggen representative says. Most Haggen markets have a pharmacy, but there are no plans at this time to do that in Ashland, said Deborah Pleva, the public relations spokeswoman for Haggen.  The purchase of some Safeway markets by Haggen was ordered by the Federal Trade Commission following the purchase of Safeway by Albertsons . That merger awaits final approval by the FTC. Because Ashland has both an Albertsons and Safeway store, FTC rules seek to prevent monopolies by prohibiting stores in the same market from having the same ownership, said Pleva. As a result of its acquisitions, Haggen, an 82-year-old chain in Washington and Oregon, will balloon from 18 to 164 stores spread over the Northwest, plus California, Nevada and Arizona. It’s employees will increase fivefold to 10,000. The new ownership of Safeway will “preserve a healthy, competitive environment” in Ashland’s supermarkets, said Pleva. Haggen is also buying 20 Safeway and Albertsons stores in Oregon, including two each in Grants Pass and Klamath Falls. Its banner reads “Haggen Northwest Fresh.” The conversion of stores starts in Washington, with Oregon slated for completion about a third of the way through. All stores will be converted by July 4.  Haggen is the sixth largest private company in Washington. In its public relations release, Haggen says it supports regional farms, ranches, fisheries and other businesses and supports local events and services.  “We warmly welcome these new employees and stores to the Haggen family. The stores are well fun and very successful, thanks to dedicated store teams,” said John Clougher, CEO of the Pacific Northwest segment of Haggen, in the news release.  “We want to retain these existing teams while allowing our growing company to build on their past successes. We plan to adopt the best practices of our new stores.” The “about” sheet on Haggen says that though it’s now a leading chain, it “still considers itself that funky little Bellingham store where it all started back in 1933.” Its promotional material emphasizes green themes. “Haggen Northwest Fresh starts with the soil, water and air. It relies on the hands that plant, nourish and nurture food with profound respect for it. ... Haggen takes pride in its long history of leading the way in sustainability and conservation. From sourcing and recycling eco-friendly materials to investing in energy-efficient lighting and equipment, the company is always looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact. But our most effective initiative by far is one that has been central to the business all along: buying local.” The expansion is financed by Comvest Partners, a private investment firm with $1.8 billion in assets under management. It owns the majority of Haggen stock. The Comvest list of equity investments online lists many in the areas of health, security, jewelry, data, construction — and labels Haggen as “a chain of high-end grocery stores.” The Ashland Safeway is at 585 Siskiyou Boulevard, at Sherman Street on the site where Ashland’s first brick school building, Hawthorne School, was built in 1900. Safeway was built after a new junior high school was built on Walker Avenue in the 1960s. — Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 2:00 am Updated Jan 2, 2015 at 12:34 PM » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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