The Herald Business Journal Staff

Albertsons plans to run some Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores under its historic brand name if a deal goes through to allow the supermarket giant to buy the Bellingham chain’s remaining stores.

Albertsons will operate 14 historic Haggen stores under the Haggen brand name and one converted location in Oak Harbor. The remaining 14 stores, which were previously divested by Albertsons, will transition over time back to the Albertsons banner.

“We are excited about the opportunity to have the backing of Albertsons and look forward to be part of the Albertsons grocery family. Haggen has been a part of the Pacific Northwest and the Bellingham community for more than eight decades and we will continue the traditions of operating great Haggen stores focused on community involvement, fresh northwest products and great service,” said Haggen chief executive officer John Clougher, in a statement.

Haggen announced on Friday night that it had accepted a $106 million deal for the Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons to purchase 29 of its remaining 32 core stores in Washington and Oregon. The deal must still be approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

Haggen filed for bankruptcy last September after it had bought 146 stores in the Albertsons-Safeway merger.