New Dahl's owner a mystery

Attorneys for the bankrupt Dahl's Foods Inc. held an auction Monday to find a buyer for the company, but a winning bidder has not yet been revealed.

The closed auction was held in the law offices of Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave at 801 Grand Ave. Only attorneys for the bidding companies were allowed into the proceedings. A hearing to approve the sale will be Jan. 30 in bankruptcy court.

Jeffrey Goetz, attorney for Dahl's, did not return calls seeking comment.

The 84-year-old grocer operates 10 stores in the Des Moines-metro area. It filed for bankruptcy Nov. 9.

The front-runner in the bidding process is Associated Wholesale Grocers of Kansas City, Kan. The grocery store cooperative and supplier already owns seven Dahl's buildings, which it leases back to the Des Moines company. AWG loaned Dahl's $6.6 million to continue operating during the bankruptcy.

AWG has proposed paying $3.5 million for the company, which could be adjusted depending on the value of the inventory and other items. One of the Dahl's stores, 8700 Hickman Road in Clive, is being carved out of the bankruptcy case because it has a potential buyer.