Some shoppers at the new Fresh Market stores had delays of two days or more in getting prescriptions filled because of pharmacy glitches linked to the phaseout this week of 34 Albertsons stores in Utah.

Computer software problems surfaced as the switch was being made from Sav-on pharmacies at the former Albertsons supermarkets to SmartMed pharmacies in the newly branded stores.

On Tuesday, Fresh Market president Dick King said the troubles had been worked out and all pharmacies reopened. He apologized to customers for the delays.

"While Fresh Market made every possible effort to ensure a seamless transition for our pharmacy customers, it is a transfer of significant magnitude and we have experienced minor challenges," King said in a statement. "Solutions have been found all of our pharmacies are now fully operational."

Associated Food Stores recently finalized the deal to buy the Albertsons locations, which opened Monday as Fresh Market stores. All but two of the Albertsons stores had pharmacies.

Customers were notified of the changeover and told that the pharmacies would be closed Sunday. That evening, employees restocked shelves with Associated Food in-store brands and removed all Albertsons-labeled goods.

The converted pharmacies were supposed to reopen Monday, but at some point during the day pharmacies at all the stores were closed, some longer than others. Problems persisted into Tuesday.

"Our standards

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for accuracy and security, particularly in the pharmacy department, are of critical importance to us, and we sincerely apologize to customers who have been inconvenience," King said.

Fresh Market stores have retained virtually all of the 2,700 former Albertsons employees -- including its pharmacists. Prescriptions for former Albertsons/Sav-on customers have been transferred, and all prescription numbers remain the same.

"Customers can now go in and have their prescriptions filled at any Fresh Market store," Associated Food spokesman Rand Mickelson said Tuesday.

SmartMed, is owned by Associated Food, a grocery wholesaler headquartered in Salt Lake City, which supplies 500 independent grocery stores in seven Intermountain states.

Associated Food purchased the Albertsons stores from the Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc., in July, pending federal approval. The Federal Trade Commission OK'd the deal but blocked the sale of an Albertsons store in Tooele, and a store in Kearns was withdrawn from the offer. Those stores, and four Albertsons supermarkets in West Jordan and Orem, are up for sale.

Albertsons has said the stores will remain open until a buyer is found. Three Albertsons stores in the St. George area will remain with Supervalu.

dawn@sltrib.com