Aug 30, 2006 9:00 AM, from staff and wire reports

Stater Brothers Markets has announced the beginning of a year-long celebration to mark 70 years of serving Southern California. On Aug 17, 1936, twin brothers Cleo and Leo Stater opened the first Stater Bros market in Yucaipa CA.

A new 2.1 million-square-foot corporate offices and distribution center complex is under construction at the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino CA. Corporate offices are scheduled to open in May 2007, and the distribution center is set for an August 2007 opening.

The supermarket chain will open four new full-service supermarkets, including a 70th-anniversary supermarket in Highland CA. The other three stores will serve the communities of San Jacinto, Cathedral City, and Palm Desert CA.

Stater Bros is the largest privately owned supermarket chain in California with annual sales of $3.4 billion in 2005. It operates 162 supermarkets and has more than 17,000 employees.