Vons Cos.: The El Monte-based grocery chain,...

Vons Cos.: The El Monte-based grocery chain, which last fall bought the Southern California Safeway stores, reported a net loss for 1988 of $23.9 million, compared with pro forma net income of $1.6 million the year before. The company said the loss included $11.9 million in costs associated with its purchase and remodeling of the Safeway locations. Sales for the year rose 21.4% to $3.9 million. Operating income declined to $49.4 million from a pro forma figure of $67.5 million a year ago, the company said, reflecting costs associated with the Safeway purchase, liability insurance and workers’ compensation and implementation of a price reduction policy in the first quarter.

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