Jun 17, 2004 12:12 PM, from staff and wire reports

Albertson’s Inc is continuing to exit markets where it is not #1 or #2 or sees no near-term path to get to a leadership position. Consequently, the Boise ID-based supermarket giant will exit the greater Omaha NE marketplace immediately by selling 21 stores: 11 food and 10 drug stores in Omaha, Bellevue, and Grand Island NE and Council Bluffs IA.

The food store transactions include:

•The sale of five Albertson’s stores in Omaha and Bellevue to No Frills.

•Sale of six Albertson’s stores in Omaha and Grand Island to Bag ’n Save.

These definitive agreements are subject to customary closing conditions.