Southeastern Grocers, the Jacksonville-based company formed by the 2012 merger of the Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo supermarket chains, said June 3 it plans to discontinue the Bi-Lo brand.
As part of that plan, the company is selling 62 stores under the Bi-Lo and Harveys brands in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to Food Lion.
Southeastern Grocers operates supermarkets in seven states under the Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys and Fresco y Mas brands.
The company said in a news release it is “actively exploring strategic options for the remaining Bi-Lo stores.”
“Today’s transactions are a critical strategic move and an important next step for our continued growth and broader evolution as a business,” CEO Anthony Hucker said in the release.
“These actions will facilitate greater investment in our remaining footprint so we can continue to provide an exceptional shopping experience our customers can always count on.”
The company went through a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring two years ago, with a group of creditors ending up as its owners. Southeastern Grocers has not disclosed who owns the shares of the company.
While exiting Bi-Lo, Southeastern Grocers said it intends to grow the Winn-Dixie, Harveys and Fresco y Mas banners. It announced plans May 27 to open eight Winn-Dixie stores in Florida locations formerly occupied by the closed Earth Fare and Lucky’s Market chains.
Food Lion said it will operate the 62 stores it is acquiring under the Food Lion banner.
“We are so excited to add these new locations to our more than 630 stores across Georgia and the Carolinas,” Food Lion President Meg Ham said in a news release.
Food Lion, a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize, operates more than 1,000 stores in 10 states.
The 62 stores will be phased in to the Food Lion brand in early 2021, with the deal expected to be complete by April.