Raley's gives itself two years to digest acquisition of 27 stores in Southwest.(grocery chain)

As Raley's prepares to settle into its new markets of Las Vegas and New Mexico, the local grocery chain will forgo any additional acquisitions for two years.

Meanwhile, Raley's plans to add six new stores a year.

That, said Michael Teel, will give the West Sacramento supermarket chain time to fully absorb the 27 new stores acquired this year because of the merger of Albertson's and Lucky, and the 27 gained last year through the purchase of the Nob Hill Foods chain.

"It'll keep us busy. You bet. We have plenty to do," said Teel, president and chief executive officer, and grandson of founder Thomas Raley.

In addition to integrating and remodeling the stores acquired from Albertson's, Lucky and Nob Hill, Raley's will continue to remodel 10 percent of its existing stores annually. "We like to invest heavily in the existing store base," Teel noted.

Two new markets: Raley's was looking to enter a new market through acquisition when the opportunity presented itself to buy 19 Albertson's in Las Vegas, six Albertson's in Albuquerque, N.M., and two Lucky/Sav-on stores in Las Cruces, N.M.

To gain approval of their merger, Albertson's and American Stores Co., operator …