Not-so-fat Albertson's

Albertson's Inc. (Boise, Idaho) announced on Thursday that it is selling 80 Osco Drug stores, all located in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to Brooks Pharmacy for $240 million. The deal is expected to close in January of 2002.

Brooks Pharmacy, based in Warwick, R.I., is a private New England drug store chain. Albertson's, the nation's second-largest supermarket chain (behind Cincinnati-based Kroger), operates more than 2500 stores in 36 states, under banners including Albertson's, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug, Max Foods, Super Saver and Seessel's by Albertson's.