The Bristol Stomp

Albertson’s Inc. (Boise, Idaho) has acquired Bristol Farms (Carson, Calif.), an 11-store gourmet and specialty food chain in Southern California. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bristol Farms to Albertsons’ world class family of stores,” said chairman, ceo and president Larry Johnston. “Bristol Farms has clearly built a solid leadership position in the Southern California specialty, gourmet market segment with strong performance over the past several years. This acquisition is the latest example of our dedication to diversify into new formats that can accelerate growth, tap into new customer segments and maximize return on invested capital.”

All the acquired stores will continue to operate under the Bristol Farms banner, with separate management operating the business independently from Albertsons’ traditional food and drug operations. Kevin Davis will continue as Bristol Farms’ president and ceo. Bristol Farms will be a wholly owned but independently operated subsidiary of Albertson’s Inc. The specialty foods retailer was formerly majority owned by private equity funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC (Los Angeles).