Supervalu sells Bigg's stores

MINNEAPOLIS Six Bigg's stores and their pharmacies will be sold to a northern Kentucky-based supermarket chain.

Supervalu said it has entered an agreement with Remke Markets to transfer the ownership of six Bigg’s stores and their pharmacies in the greater Cincinnati area. The transaction is expected to close in spring 2010 and will bring Remke Markets’ complement of locally owned and operated stores to 13. Each of these locations will be supplied by the Supervalu distribution center in Xenia, Ohio.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome these bigg’s stores and their customers into the Remke family,” said Bill Remke, president and CEO of Remke Markets. “The Bigg’s stores bring many assets to our organization, and we look forward to blending the strengths of two great grocery chains to create an organization committed to service, quality and value.”

Supervalu said it plans to close its five remaining Bigg’s stores before the end of May. Its Kentucky-based Bigg's stores' prescription files will be transferred to Remke Market’s Turfway store later this spring. The other four pharmacies’ files will be transferred to another local company.