Salisbury-based Food Lion buys BI-LO stores across Carolinas, Georgia

SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury-based Food Lion announced its largest acquisition in 30 years Tuesday with the purchase of 62 BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket stores across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Food Lion is buying the stores from Southeastern Grocers, which manages supermarkets in seven states under the Winn-Dixie, BI-LO, Harveys and Fresco y Mas brands.

Southeastern grocers said it plans to discontinue the BI-LO brand entirely and is working on a plan for the remaining stores.

Food Lion is looking to hire 4,650 associates to work the newly acquired stores.

In addition to the stores, Southeastern Grocers has also agreed to transition a distribution center in Mauldin, South Carolina, to Ahold Delhaize USA (ADUSA) Distribution, LLC, which will support the newly acquired stores and Food Lion’s current network of stores across its 10-state footprint.

The stores will continue to be managed by Southeastern Grocers and will transition to Food Lion once the transaction is complete.

Currently, Food Lion operates more than 1,000 stores, including over 630 stores across Georgia and the Carolinas.

The deal is expected to close next year.

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