99 Ranch Market, a leading Asian supermarket chain in the United States, announced plans to close two of its California locations by the end of the year, resulting in job losses for more than 100 employees. The Chino store at 4024 Grand Avenue is scheduled to shut down on November 15, affecting 49 workers, while the Pleasanton store at 4299 Rosewood Drive will close on December 5, impacting 54 employees. These closures follow notifications filed by Tawa Supermarket Inc., the Buena Park-based parent company of 99 Ranch Market, under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act on Monday.

In a statement, the company described the decision as an effort to "optimize our store network and allocate resources more effectively to better serve our customers." Despite the closures, 99 Ranch Market emphasized its continued commitment to serving the affected communities, noting the presence of other nearby stores in the Tri-Valley and Chino/Chino Hills regions, which will remain operational.

Founded in 1984 by Taiwanese immigrant Roger Chen, 99 Ranch Market began with its first outlet in Westminster and has since expanded to more than 60 stores across 11 states, with the majority located in California. The chain’s growth reflected rising demand for Pan-Asian food products and diverse grocery offerings.

The recent store closures come amid intensifying competition among Asian grocery retailers in California, particularly in the Bay Area. Korean American grocer H Mart has been expanding its footprint, including a new East Bay location and plans for a 100,000-square-foot, two-level store in Fremont featuring a food hall and bar. Other entrants such as Daly City’s Jagalchi market, which opened last year with a large facility offering fresh seafood, a bakery, and K-beauty products alongside sit-down dining, have also entered the market. Additionally, Canadian-based T&T Supermarket opened a 55,000-square-foot location in San José in June and has announced upcoming stores in San Francisco and Millbrae.

Broader shifts within the industry have affected other grocery retailers in California as well. For example, Grocery Outlet revealed in March plans to close 36 underperforming stores, including six in Southern California.

99 Ranch Market recently opened a second store in Las Vegas’s Summerlin neighborhood in January, indicating ongoing expansion efforts outside California.

Separately, Tawa Supermarket Inc. is facing legal challenges from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed a lawsuit in June alleging the company discriminated against non-Chinese workers based on their national origin. Tawa Supermarket has denied the allegations and intends to contest the claims. No ruling or settlement has been announced to date.