Va.-based Ukrop's stores change to Martin's Food Markets banners

RICHMOND, Va. This spring, a grocery chain familiar to residents of Virginia since 1937 will change faces.

Giant-Carlisle, part of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold, announced Monday that it would make its planned changes this spring to the 25 Ukrop’s stores it purchased in the Richmond and Williamsburg, Va., areas, changing the stores to Martin’s Food Markets and rolling back business practices that analysts have blamed for costing Ukrop’s its top spot in the Richmond market. Ahold announced in December that it would acquire Ukrop’s for $140 million through its Giant-Carlisle division, which operates stores under the Giant and Martin’s banners in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Many analysts have said that Ukrop’s long-standing policy of closing on Sundays and not selling alcohol caused the family-owned chain to lose its top place in the Richmond market to Food Lion, owned by Belgium-based Delhaize Group. The rebranded Ukrop’s stores will sell beer and wine and remain open on Sundays.

Giant-Carlisle said the Ukrop family will continue to provide kitchen and bakery products to the stores. The stores include 19 pharmacies, which will continue to operate with their current pharmacists.