Any insight to Haggen Grocery Stores?? (Auburn: transfer, prices, grocer)

[SantosLHalper]

For those who lived down southern US way, reminds me a little bit of Harris Teeter. Can be expensive, but they have a lot of what we buy. They sell the Full Circle Organic brand, have a large GF section and a lot of vegetarian frozen food selections. Prices for your drug store or paper products is pretty expensive. Their Haggen brand name products are pretty strong, haven't been disappointed, especially with their bakery. Feel like they are a step above Safeway, but a good option when you don't have a Whole Foods. Store we go to in Olympia is large, open 24 hours and usually well stocked.

[revelated]

This is depressing.

Safeway has one saving grace: Home Delivery. Haggens doesn't have it at all, Schwans doesn't have the inventory, Amazon Fresh for some bizarre reason doesn't deliver to the south. One of Safeway's distro hubs is walking distance from me and it's massive. If they shut that down then I'll see the writing on the wall.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by revelated

This is depressing.

Safeway has one saving grace: Home Delivery. Haggens doesn't have it at all, Schwans doesn't have the inventory, Amazon Fresh for some bizarre reason doesn't deliver to the south. One of Safeway's distro hubs is walking distance from me and it's massive. If they shut that down then I'll see the writing on the wall.

I doubt they will. Even if the local store becomes a Haggen, they won't shut down the distribution hub. They won't be rebranding Safeways as Albertsons - they'll just share corporate ownership.

[Andy Patrizio]

Originally Posted by Sadie181

I would love to see the Safeway in the Issaquah Highland revamped. That store is awful! I'd love a higher quality grocery store with tons of organics there!

Why not go to PCC Natural Markets?

Issaquah PCC | PCC Natural Markets

[wutitiz]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

I doubt they will. Even if the local store becomes a Haggen, they won't shut down the distribution hub. They won't be rebranding Safeways as Albertsons - they'll just share corporate ownership.

Yeah I know some people who work there (if this is the Auburn distribution center we're talking about). They expect to see expansion under the new owners.

[RJ8089]

Originally Posted by SantosLHalper

For those who lived down southern US way, reminds me a little bit of Harris Teeter. Can be expensive, but they have a lot of what we buy. They sell the Full Circle Organic brand, have a large GF section and a lot of vegetarian frozen food selections. Prices for your drug store or paper products is pretty expensive. Their Haggen brand name products are pretty strong, haven't been disappointed, especially with their bakery. Feel like they are a step above Safeway, but a good option when you don't have a Whole Foods. Store we go to in Olympia is large, open 24 hours and usually well stocked.

Haggens is no Harris Teeter (which is now part of Kroger like Fred Meyers).

[revelated]

Originally Posted by wutitiz

Yeah I know some people who work there (if this is the Auburn distribution center we're talking about). They expect to see expansion under the new owners.

Well, I know that's the usual mantra...after an acquisition, an announcement of potential expansion...and then layoffs. Let's hope otherwise.

But I just did an online Safeway order and their inventory is STARK. I mean, nowhere near what it used to be. All they really have is frozen foods. Nothing that would be considered a "shelf" item. Barely any ground coffee when I know they have at least 20 brands of it. You go to the kitchenware area, they have one saucepan. ONE.

Something's going on for sure.

[Garfunkle524]

I'm a big Haggen/Top Foods fan. They're a definite step up from Safeway, but not quite Whole Foods/PCC. Their prices are competitive with Safeway, but just a tad higher. Their deli, bakery, and prepared foods are very good. I also like that they carry a lot of PNW regional brands. Portland Pepper Sauce Company, anyone?

[wutitiz]

Originally Posted by revelated

Well, I know that's the usual mantra...after an acquisition, an announcement of potential expansion...and then layoffs. Let's hope otherwise.

But I just did an online Safeway order and their inventory is STARK. I mean, nowhere near what it used to be. All they really have is frozen foods. Nothing that would be considered a "shelf" item. Barely any ground coffee when I know they have at least 20 brands of it. You go to the kitchenware area, they have one saucepan. ONE.

Something's going on for sure.

I don't know anything about Safeway's online operation, but knowing safeway they are tech-challenged, and probably the on-line operation is considered a bastard child. I have spoken personally with the Safeway Auburn distribution center director, and she is supremely confident that the takeover by Cerberus will mean expansion for her DC. She is a remarkable young female exec.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/robin-barber/45/9b6/3b7

[bartonizer]

I'm new to WA but I lived for 15 years in NC, and Haggen definitely reminds me of Harris Teeter. As others have stated, it's a step up from Safeway but a notch below Whole Foods. Not the best prices on everything, but they carry a good selection of the normal name brand things as well as a good amount of organic/higher end offerings. Since they're headquartered in Bellingham, it will be interesting to see if their massive expansion does anything here for the local economy.