Bashas’ trims work force, cites economy

The Chandler-based Bashas’ supermarket chain said Friday it was cutting about 100 management positions, affecting less than 1 percent of its total work force of about 13,000.

Longtime Scottsdale Bashas closes

The company cited “uncontrollable factors” - including the economic slowdown and the rising cost of food, energy, fuel and health care - as the reason for the staff reduction.

“It’s a challenging time for local businesses, and the grocery industry is no exception,” said Mike Proulx, president and chief operating officer of Bashas’. “We’re streamlining our operations and rightsizing our company due to this economic downturn.”

Affected individuals were offered a severance package and have been put on a preferential hiring list for positions as they become available, he said.

“The goal is to impact our stores as little as possible — to have more help on our sales floors instead of on administrative tasks,” Proulx said.

Employees affected by the layoff are located at the company’s Ocotillo headquarters in south Chandler; the distribution center at Chandler Boulevard and 56th Street, also in Chandler; and the human resources, training and development center at Seventh Street south of University Drive in Phoenix.

The company does not plan to close any stores and actually will open three new stores later this year, including an AJ’s Fine Foods at DC Ranch in Scottsdale in August, said spokeswoman Kristy Nied.

The company operates more than 160 stores in Arizona and is the eighth-largest employer in the state. It also is the 15th-largest privately held supermarket chain in the nation.