Report: Food Lion pulls plug on Bloom stores expansion

RALEIGH, N.C. Food Lion has pulled its plans to bring four Bloom stores to the North Carolina market, according to local reports.

The four stores, which currently are under construction, will become Food Lions instead. Spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown said the company will focus on increasing the number of Bloom stores in existing markets rather than expanding into new ones.

The Bloom chain, which was introduced in 2004, has 66 stores, including one opening in Charlotte this week. The stores are known for such tech-savvy features as scanner guns and recipe kiosks.