MINNEAPOLIS – SuperValu announced plans to convert 22 recently acquired Food Lion grocery stores to the company’s own Shop ‘N Save format. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the Federal Trade Commission.
SuperValu acquired the stores in connection with the merger of international retailers Ahold, Zaandam, the Netherlands, and Brussels-based Delhaize Group.
As Shop ‘N Save stores, SuperValu plans to implement full-variety meat departments, full-service delis and bakeries and expanded produce departments. The company expects the 22 Food Lion stores to benefit from both the scale of the format and similar merchandising and marketing strategies which will include comprehensive advertising and promotional support through the Shop ‘N Save loyalty card program and interactive website and mobile app.
The newly acquired stores are not part of SuperValu’s corporately-owned Shop ‘n Save retail banner comprised of 44 stores in the St. Louis, Missouri, area, the company added. As part of the merger, Ahold and Delhaize began divesting stores through several deals.
“I’m pleased that SuperValu will acquire these stores, which should provide excellent opportunities for our wholesale customers, who were unable to buy them outright,” Mark Groxx, SuperValu president and CEO, said in a news release. “The stores will operate under our Shop ‘N Save format, which we believe is a great format for us and our wholesale customers. This acquisition is another example of the work we’re doing to grow our business and to deliver creative solutions for our wholesale customers.”
SuperValu said the 22 stores are conventional supermarkets that are approximately 35,000 sq. ft. in size and spread across West Virginia, western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania and northwestern Virginia.
