As Smart & Final converts 33 acquired Haggen stores in Southern California to its own banner over the next year, it is contemplating growth beyond its existing geography in six Western states, a company executive told investors Tuesday.
Speaking at the Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Consumer and Retail Tech Conference in New York, Richard Phegley, SVP and CFO for the Los Angeles-based non-membership warehouse chain, said the company sees additional growth opportunities throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
It also sees room to expand the Smart & Final Extra banner beyond the southern part of its operation while growing the Cash & Carry business-to-business format from the Pacific Northwest into Southern California, Phegley said.
“And longer-term we think a broader U.S. market is accessible to us, with the potential for 1,250 Extra stores.”
He also said the company sees growth opportunities in Mexico, where it operates 15 joint-venture stores.