RETAILING
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Smart & Final Buys Florida Distributor: Smart & Final Inc., the Los Angeles-based warehouse grocery chain, has reached an agreement to acquire 90% interest in Henry Lee Co., a Miami-based distributor of grocery items. The warehouse retailer, which also owns and operates a food distributor company in Stockton, will pay $18 million in cash and notes for Henry Lee. Smart & Final plans to enter the Florida market by opening six stores in the state in 1995. Henry Lee, which supplies restaurants and hotels in Florida, will also provide products for Smart & Final’s Florida stores. Smart & Final currently operates 145 grocery warehouse stores in California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico.
