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Rural Stores Could Benefit Bi-Lo

While speculation over the future of Sweetbay generated the majority of industry buzz in the Bi-Lo-Delhaize deal, more than half of the stores in the proposed transaction are from the retailer’s smallest divisions.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

June 3, 2013

2 Min Read
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While speculation over the future of Sweetbay generated the majority of industry buzz in the Bi-Lo-Delhaize deal, more than half of the stores in the proposed transaction are from the retailer’s smallest divisions.

That would be Harveys and Reid’s, two banners Delhaize acquired to bolster its Food Lion banner in small towns in the Deep South.

Reid’s was a single-store operation in Barnwell, S.C., when acquired by Food Lion in 1998. Reid Boylston, its founder and namesake, remained with Delhaize as Reid’s director as Delhaize converted several former Food Lion stores in South Carolina to its banner. It currently operates 11 stores.

Read more: New Owners in the Sweetbay Saga

In 2003, Food Lion acquired J.H. Harvey, operator of 43 Harveys Supermarket locations based in Nashville, Ga. Like Reid’s, Food Lion saw Harveys as a means to convert Food Lion stores in less-dense markets, particularly in Northern Florida. Harveys also came with a strong reputation for quality in the small towns it served, Delhaize officials said at the time of the deal.

While officials of Bi-Lo Holdings have not revealed their plans for Reid’s or Harveys, the chains would help to bridge a gap between Winn-Dixie’s Florida base and Bi-Lo, with stores are mainly in South Carolina.

 

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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