Haggen closing dozens of stores across Southland

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- It wasn't too long ago, less than a year in fact, that Haggen moved into Southern California, taking over a number of Vons and Albertsons stores.

Now, however, Haggen is leaving, closing dozens of stores across the Southland.

But the news isn't all bad because the grocery chain known as Aldi is now moving into Southern California and hiring more than 1,100 people in the process.

"I needed work, so I decided to come and try it out," said Charles Henderson.

Henderson was one of hundreds of people who showed up at an Aldi job fair in Riverside Friday morning.

"I was excited when I heard they were coming here, so I was like, yeah, I gotta get on that," said Corrine Rye.

"I'm really good with customers, so I figure maybe I'll give it a shot," said Danielle Gonsalvez.

When it comes to grocery chains, Aldi is a little different. For example, you'll have to rent grocery carts for 25 cents and then return them to get your money back.

But that keeps costs down. For example, one bottle of mustard is only 69 cents.

"We sell one variety of mustard in one size, and with 1,400 stores buying that product, we're able to negotiate very good costs with our suppliers, and we pass that on to the customers in the form of low prices," said Gordon Nesbit, vice president of Aldi.

Aldi says it will be opening about a dozen stores starting in March 2016, first in the Inland Empire and then expanding to the rest of Southern California.