Sponsored By

Piggly Wiggly footprint expands in South Carolina, Georgia

Independent grocer acquires pair of shuttered Bi-Lo stores

Russell Redman

June 4, 2018

1 Min Read
piggly wiggly
Piggly Wiggly

More former Southeastern Grocers supermarkets have gone to the Piggly Wiggly retail banner.

C&S Wholesale Grocers, owner and licensor of the Piggly Wiggly brand, said closed Bi-Lo stores in Ladson and Mullins, S.C., have been acquired by Lynn and Cindy Willard of Charleston, S.C.-based Lowcountry Grocers LLC, which operates nine Piggly Wiggly locations in South Carolina.

Financial terms of the transactions, which closed in mid-May, weren’t disclosed. C&S said the two stores were rebranded under the Piggly Wiggly name, and grand opening celebrations are slated to be held on June 6.

Lowcountry Grocers’ current Piggly Wiggly locations are in Florence (two), Georgetown, Hampton, Hanahan, Moncks Corner, North Charleston, St. George and Surfside Beach, S.C.

“Our independent owners are excited to grow their existing store count and expand the Piggly Wiggly brand in the Southeast,” said John Owens, vice president of marketing and merchandising in the Southeast for Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Independently owned and operated, Piggly Wiggly stores in South Carolina and southeastern Georgia are supported and supplied by C&S. Including the latest locations converting to the banner. C&S now serves 51 Piggly Wiggly stores in those markets.

C&S said in March that three Piggly Wiggly owners purchased a combined six stores — three Bi-Lo locations in South Carolina and three Harvey’s Supermarkets in Georgia — from Southeastern Grocers. Earlier in the month, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based retailer had announced plans to close 94 stores and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, from which the company emerged last week.

Overall, more than 600 independent supermarkets in 16 states bear the Piggly Wiggly banner.

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