Haggen lays off employees, cuts hours at its grocery stores

Haggen Inc., the Pacific Northwest grocery chain that bought 146 Vons, Albertsons, Pavilions and Safeway stores in California this year, including six in San Luis Obispo County, is laying off employees and cutting hours as it fights to win over customers.

The grocery chain's six local stores include two in San Luis Obispo and one each in Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Los Osos and Paso Robles.

Haggen media representative Kris Ellenberg declined Friday to say how many workers have been laid off in the San Luis Obispo County stores, noting only that the "specific reductions vary by store."

"We’re currently focused on working through this transition with store teams and leadership so, out of respect for the process and our employees, no additional information will be shared at this time," Ellenberg wrote in an email to The Tribune.

Local store managers directed requests for comment to Ellenberg.

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Haggen lays off employees, cuts hours at its grocery stores."