K-VA-T purchases 29 Bi-Lo stores
ABINGDON, Va. & JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Regional grocery chain Southeastern Grocers has agreed to sell 29 Bi-Lo stores to another regional grocery chain: K-VA-T Food Stores.
K-VA-T said it intends to operate all of these stores under the Food City banner and hire the vast majority of their store associates, retaining their years of service.
“We are extremely excited to have this opportunity to expand our operation into the Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia markets. We certainly look forward to welcoming the Bi-Lo associates to our Food City family and serving the region,” said Steven Smith, Food City president and CEO. “Our consumers can rest assured that we plan to complete the conversion process as quickly as possible, with the least interruption to the normal flow of business. It’s our intention to enhance the overall variety and selection and further develop the services and conveniences provided to our shoppers.”
Southeastern Grocers and K-VA-T anticipated that the transfer and handoff dates of the 29 Bi-Lo stores will begin Aug. 30, with all stores fully transitioned by Oct. 5, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
"We are pleased to enter into this transaction with K-VA-T, which we believe is the right decision not only for Southeastern Grocers, but also for our stores and associates in Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia,” said Ian McLeod, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. “This was not an easy decision for us, as we have the utmost respect for our associates who serve our customers in these stores so well. In the approach by K-VA-T, we believe we have identified a strong partner to ensure these 29 stores and our associates are positioned for continued success under another reputable regional brand. On behalf of the management team, I want to thank all of our hard-working Bi-Lo associates for their dedication and support over many years."
K-VA-T Food Stores is the corporate banner of a supermarket chain operating in three states under the Food City banner. With 15 units in Southeastern Kentucky, 27 units in Southwest Virginia and 62 units in East Tennessee, the 104-store chain includes 93 Food City locations (with 79 pharmacies and 84 fuel/convenience stores), ten Super Dollar Discount Foods limited assortment stores and one wine & spirits store.
Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has approximately 790 grocery stores, 143 liquor stores and 527 in-store pharmacies throughout the eight southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.