RETAILING

Quarterly Sales Increase at Ralphs: The closely held Compton-based Ralphs Grocery Co. said it had second-quarter sales of $1.24 billion, an increase of 45% over the same period a year ago. The company has closed many stores and opened others since it was acquired in June 1995 by the Los Angeles-based Yucaipa Cos., an investment firm that operated the Alpha Beta, Boys and Viva stores--chains that were converted into Ralphs after the merger.