Shoppers are in for at least one sweet treat when they visit any of the 34 Albertsons stores that have been purchased by Associated Foods.

Starting today, those who bring their Albertsons loyalty cards to the newly named Fresh Markets will be able to exchange the defunct cards for a free 5-pound bag of Western Family sugar.

The offer is good all this week or until supplies last, Associated Foods spokesman Rand Mickelson said today at a news conference announcing that the purchase has been finalized and that other big changes are on the way.

On Sunday, the Albertsons stores closed at 6 p.m. so employees could restock shelves with Associated Foods' in-store brand and remove all Albertsons-labeled goods.

The new Fresh Markets do not offer loyalty cards and there will be none of the double-coupon days that Albertsons offered. But there will be bargains in the new stores through large-volume buying, promised Dick King, president of the newly converted markets.

Associated Foods, headquartered in Salt Lake City, supplies more than 500 independent grocery stores throughout seven Intermountain states. Shoppers also could see savings because of Associated Foods' focus on Utah's Own products and locally produced and manufactured foods, said King. Selections will be fresher and expenses will cut because many items will not have to be shipped 1,500 miles or more from other locations.

Most of Albertsons 2,700 Utah employees have been hired by Associated Foods, and additional job openings will be available as sales increase, said King, who had worked at Albertsons for 36 years before joining Associated Foods in 2001.

Albertsons parent company, Supervalu, will keep three Albertsons stores open in the St. George area, and four stores in West Jordan and Orem are up for sale. Federal regulators blocked the sale of an Albertsons store in Tooele to Associated Foods. And the Kearns store was dropped from the purchase because it did not match up with Associated Foods' financial needs, said King.