SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. Markets, which recently became a private company with no public debt, is taking steps toward expansion with the announcement that it plans to open two new "Blue Ribbon" supermarkets to better serve the California communities of Covina and Menifee.

Stater Bros. Markets, which recently became a private company with no public debt, is taking steps toward expansion with the announcement that it plans to open two new "Blue Ribbon" supermarkets to better serve the California communities of Covina and Menifee.

The company says that the new supermarkets will create more than 250 new store-level jobs and approximately 300 local construction jobs.

"These two stores are a major investment in Southern California, which Stater Bros. has served for over 78 years," stated chairman and CEO Jack Brown. "We want to thank our loyal customers for making it possible for us to continue to grow and serve even more families year after year."

In Covina (Los Angeles County), Stater Bros. has entered into an agreement to occupy the former Albertsons Supermarket at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Covina Boulevard.

This will be the first Stater Bros. supermarket in Covina and the 26th Stater Bros. supermarket in Los Angeles County.

Stater Bros. has served Los Angeles County since 1950 and currently operates six supermarkets in the neighboring communities of Azusa, Glendora, San Dimas, Walnut and West Covina.

The new 42,390-square-foot supermarket will subsequently undergo a complete remodel and reopen as a “Blue Ribbon” Stater Bros. Supermarket before the end of this year.

In Menifee, Stater Bros. will build a “Blue Ribbon” Stater Bros. Supermarket at the southeast corner of Menifee Road and Newport Road. This new 44,000-square-foot supermarket will be the third location for Stater Bros. in that city. Stater Bros. has served Menifee for over 35 years. A grand opening for the new grocery is planned for late 2015.

The company says these two new environmentally friendly supermarkets will feature an expanded selection of products and services including full-service meat and seafood departments and fresh produce departments with an assortment of fruits and vegetables for a healthy lifestyle.