Spartan enacts consolidation plan with distribution center opening

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. A Midwestern supermarket operator and distributor has reached an agreement with a labor union over what will happen to the employees when it closes one of its warehouses.

Spartan Stores said Monday that members of the Teamsters Local 337 at its 415,000-sq.-ft. Plymouth, Mich., dry grocery facility would be offered jobs at its distribution center of the same size in Grand Rapids, Mich. The company said earlier this month that it would close the Plymouth warehouse and move operations to Grand Rapids by the end of fourth quarter 2010 as part of a consolidation plan. Spartan operates 96 stores in Michigan under the Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen’s Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Felpausch Food Centers and VG’s Food and Pharmacy banners while distributing products to 350 stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with our Plymouth facility bargaining unit employees and to offer job opportunities at our Grand Rapids distribution center,” Spartan president and CEO Dennis Eidson stated.