Idaho chain Ridley's Family Markets to buy 2 Orem Albertsons stores

OREM — Ridley's Family Markets, a family-owned supermarket chain based in Twin Falls, has agreed to purchase the two Albertsons stores in Orem from Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc., Ridley's announced in a news release Friday.

Both companies expect to complete the transaction early next year.

The two stores are both approximately 55,000 square feet and have pharmacies. The stores employ approximately 120 people, and Ridley's expects to offer employment to almost all the associates. Ridley's currently employs approximately 750 people in 14 stores in Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah, where it owns stores in Tremonton and Hyrum.

Founders Jerry and Connie Ridley said they look forward to being part of the Orem community.

"We are excited about these stores and these associates joining our growing family company," Jerry Ridley said in the company statement. "Having worked and lived in the Orem area before, this is somewhat of a homecoming for us, and we are really looking forward to it. We also feel that our unique formula of discount grocery prices combined with high levels of personal service will benefit the stores and the customers in Orem."

Ridley's Family Markets is a member of and is supplied by Associated Food Stores of Salt Lake City, a retailer-owned cooperative that in early November purchased in early November 34 other Albertsons stores owned by Supervalu.