The struggling Haggen grocer announced Friday that it will close 27 stores in the southwest over the next 60 days, including six in San Diego.

The grocer, which earlier this year expanded rapidly in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, will also sell an undisclosed number of additional stores. Haggen, based in Bellingham, Wash., bought 146 Albertsons and Safeways after the two companies merged and the federal government required them to divest some stores.

Haggen was quickly criticized by customers for having high prices. The grocer describes itself as somewhere between a Vons and a Whole Foods.

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Haggen CEO Bill Shaner said in a statement that the company will now focus on its best performing stores.

“Haggen’s goal going forward is to ensure a stable, healthy company that will benefit our customers, associates, vendors, creditors, stakeholders as well as the communities we serve,” he said. “By making the tough choice to close and sell some stores, we will be able to invest in stores that have the potential to thrive under the Haggen banner.”

The six stores closing in San Diego County are:

San Marcos: on Rancho Santa Fe Road

El Cajon: on Fletcher Parkway

La Mesa: on Lake Murray Boulevard

Chula Vista: On Telegraph Canyon Road

Chula Vista: On Third Avenue

San Ysidro: On W. San Ysidro Boulevard

Haggen didn't make a great impression on customers when it opened in March because some items were overpriced due to what its management said was a glitch. About 1,000 items were marked up incorrectly at 10 stores in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties, representing about 2.5 percent of the grocer's 40,000 products. A smaller number of other items were under priced.

A spokeswoman for Haggen declined to disclose further information on planned layoffs.