Lucky Stores Inc

While billboards and radio spots blare out L.A.'s latest supermarket takeover as nothing less than holy matrimony between Albertsons and Lucky, the bride has got to be having second thoughts. The honeymoon is barely over, and already the groom has confiscated the bride's plastic, consigning all her Lucky Rewards cards to the donation bin.

All in the Tag Line: Consumers watching English-language television have heard Albertsons' recent merger with the Lucky grocery store chain being described as a marriage. But in a new Spanish-language campaign created by Los Angeles-based Enlace Communications, the tag line is "Albertsons: It's Just Like Me." Research suggested that Latino shoppers, while familiar with Lucky, felt that Albertsons' prices might be higher and that its stores might not have many employees who speak Spanish.

Lucky Stores Inc. said Friday that it agreed to institute new training programs and promotion policies after being found guilty of sex discrimination. Under the consent decree filed in federal court, Lucky Stores will provide an entry-level management training program and allow employees to bid for promotions to management positions. It also set goals for increasing representation of women in store management positions. A U.S.

American Stores, owner of Alpha Beta supermarkets, Tuesday fired a warning shot in its battle to take over Lucky Stores. One day after his company offered $1.7 billion for Lucky, American Stores Chairman L. S. (Sam) Skaggs warned Lucky's management not to try and thwart the takeover by buying another supermarket chain. Skaggs, in a letter to Lucky's directors, said: "We have heard various reports to the effect that, as a response to American Stores' tender offer, Lucky Stores Inc.

State Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles on Thursday to stop the pending merger of Lucky Stores with the Alpha Beta grocery store chain, claiming it would violate antitrust laws. In a suit filed in U.S. District Court, Van de Kamp and the state of California seek a temporary restraining order halting the merger until a full trial can be held. A date for the hearing has not been set.

In a novel move for a major Southland grocery chain, Lucky Stores Inc. said Monday that it will start a home-delivery service by the end of the year. Lucky has teamed up with a Maryland company, Shoppers Express, that specializes in the grocery delivery business and plans to offer the phone-in service in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties and in the Las Vegas area.

Jerome C. Fahey, 60, was named vice president/general manager-specialty stores of Lucky Stores Inc., Dublin.

In this year's $12-billion marriage between supermarket chains Lucky and Albertson's, it's Lucky that will be giving up its maiden name. Beginning today, all 480 Lucky stores will be renamed Albertsons. The two chains combined will have more than 550 stores in California, making the Boise, Idaho-based grocer the largest in the state.

In this year's $12-billion marriage between supermarket chains Lucky and Albertson's, it's Lucky that won't be keeping its name. Beginning today, all 480 Lucky stores will be renamed as Albertsons, making the Boise, Idaho-based chain the largest in California. In Orange County, 46 Lucky stores will get a new name. In keeping with its long-standing policy, Albertson's also will discontinue Lucky's club card, replacing it, company officials say, with lower everyday prices.

Southern California's top three supermarket chains did not conspire to fix or raise the price of eggs, a jury in San Diego found Thursday. The 9-3 verdict in favor of Ralphs Grocery Co., Vons Cos. and Lucky Stores Inc., ended a six-week trial in San Diego County Superior Court in which consumers claimed the chains monitored one another's prices and conspired to keep them artificially high.

Lucky Stores agreed to pay more than $8,000 in fines and penalties Tuesday to settle misdemeanor allegations of overcharging customers on discounted merchandise at five San Fernando Valley markets. Daniel Doyle, an attorney representing the supermarkets, entered no contest pleas for two misdemeanor charges and three infractions. He declined further comment. "There's not much of a legal argument [on the] part of the corporation," said Deputy City Atty. Don Cocek, who prosecuted the case.

The Los Angeles city attorney's office filed criminal charges on Friday against Lucky Stores Inc. for allegedly overcharging customers on discounted merchandise at San Fernando Valley supermarkets. Posing as customers, county Department of Weights and Measures inspectors conducted a series of undercover buys at five Lucky markets in the Valley from May 28 to June 17, said Deputy City Atty. Don Cocek, who is prosecuting the case in Van Nuys Municipal Court.

The Los Angeles City Council approved a new Lucky store in Tujunga--"the first major project on Foothill Boulevard" in nearly three years, said Tom Henry, planning deputy for area City Councilman Joel Wachs. The 65,000-square-foot Lucky will replace an existing one at 624 Foothill Blvd., as well as a deserted restaurant and strip mall. The existing Lucky is expected to remain open during construction.

Tony the Tiger can't find his costume, but otherwise the grand opening of the Lucky/Sav-On in Covina is going off without a glitch. With her pale complexion, black tailored suit and flaming carrot top, Lucky pitch-model Stephanie Edwards cuts a striking figure under the vivid fluorescent lighting.

Seventy-two Lucky Stores workers over the age of 40 are suing to stop the chain from transferring them from a recently closed Fullerton warehouse to warehouses in Irvine and Buena Park. The suit, filed in Santa Ana Superior Court, does not list any dollar damages. The employees allege that they would lose their seniority and be forced to accept jobs that are too physically demanding.