Makeover at Smart & Final

The L.A.-based non-member warehouse chain, now in the hands of Apollo Management, wants to open larger stores and add bunches of items. The company, whose parentage goes back to 1871, is looking at the 25,000- to 30,000-square-foot range, which is still much smaller than your typical full-service Ralphs. Additional space allows the Smart & Final folks to provide more of a one-stop shopping experience - as opposed to the place you go if you're planning a kids party or want to stock up on soda. We're talking about more frozen foods, deli and produce sections, and even grab-and-go meals. The OC Register's Nancy Luna reports that 20 new stores are planned by the end of 2009. That includes locations in Stanton, Huntington Beach, Fullerton and La Habra, as well as several in Los Angeles County. The company does not break out financials, though Supermarket News estimates that sales last year were $2.3 billion. We do know that its ratings were downgraded by Moody's earlier this month because of higher-than-expected leverage and lower margins.