Sponsored By

Giant Food Stores to buy five Shop ‘n Saves

Ahold Delhaize USA chain pushes ahead with expansion

Russell Redman

November 7, 2018

2 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Giant Food Stores plans to acquire five Shop ‘n Save supermarkets from Supervalu Inc.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant said late Tuesday that it will convert the Shop ‘n Save stores — in Smithsburg, Md.; Greencastle, Pa.; Berryville, Va; and Hedgesville and Martinsburg, W.Va. — to its Martin’s Food Markets banner.

The transaction is slated to close in the first quarter of 2019, pending regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Giant, part of Ahold Delhaize USA, said it will announce more details about the store conversions at a later date. Current Shop ‘n Save staff at the stores will have an opportunity to interview with Martin’s.

Nicholas_Bertram_Giant_president_Martins_store_0.png“This acquisition demonstrates our continued commitment to the long-term growth strategy we announced earlier this year,” Nicholas Bertram (left), president of Giant Food Stores, said in a statement. “Our Martin’s associates have proudly served many of these communities for years, and we look forward to expanding the Martin’s brand along the Interstate 81 Corridor and within the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.”

Giant noted that the acquisition reflects its ongoing expansion plans, particularly in Pennsylvania. In June, the chain unveiled a $22 million investment plan for Lancaster County that includes a 38,000-square-foot e-commerce hub at its former North Reservoir Street location, four store remodels and a price-cut program and a new fuel station at its Lititz store. That investment builds on a $70 million plan, announced in April, to expand Giant’s store network across the state, including six new stores, two store remodels and four new fuel stations over the next two years.

Related:Giant Food Stores plans smaller urban store format

Last month, the retailer unveiled Giant Heirloom Market, a compact urban store format due to open later this year in Philadelphia. And on Nov. 16, the company plans to open a store in Lancaster’s Willow Valley area, which was acquired in September from Darrenkamp’s Markets.

Overall, Giant operates 171 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia under the Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets banners.

Minneapolis-based Supervalu had announced plans to divest the Shop ‘n Save chain in late April. At the time, the retail banner included stores in the St. Louis area and Shop ‘n Save East stores in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, which had been acquired from Food Lion.

In mid-September, Supervalu unveiled a deal to sell 19 Shop ‘n Saves and one stand-alone pharmacy to Schnuck Markets in Missouri and Illinois. Later this month, Supervalu is slated to shut the remaining 16 St. Louis-area Shop ‘n Saves because it wasn’t able to land buyers for the stores. The company, now part of United Natural Foods Inc., aims to exit the retail supermarket arena to focus on its grocery wholesale business. Supervalu currently has 111 supermarkets under the Cub Foods, Hornbacher’s and Shoppers banners.

Related:Supervalu to close remaining Shop ‘n Save stores

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like