Will Albertsons Sell Off Irvine Acreage?

Headnote

Grocer 'Considering Options' on 74 Acres in Spectrum

Will Albertsons Sell Off Irvine Acreage?

Grocery store chain Albertsons is weighing the possibility of vacating a 1-million-squarefoot distribution center that covers 74 acres in the Irvine Spectrum.

Any such move would come roughly a year after the company announced a raft of Southern California layoffs and placed its regional headquarters on the sales block.

"Albertsons' Irvine [distribution center] is not in the immediate process of relocating," spokesperson Lilia Rodriguez said. "The company is simply considering options."

Rodriguez declined last week to elaborate on reasons for the consideration.

The chain cut some 2,000 workers in its Southern California stores over the past year or so-leaving it with roughly 16,000 workers across its stores, distribution centers and Fullerton office. Then Southern California President Dan Sanders, in announcing the move in 2012, called the cuts a "necessary step for...