Albertsons to Exit Jacksonville Market

Boise, Idaho, Albertsons has agreed to sell all seven of its stores in the Jacksonville, Fla., market to independent operator Rob Rowe, who is a former executive of Winn-Dixie, published reports say. The deal, for which no purchase price was disclosed, is expected to close by mid-July, the grocer said. Albertsons said the stores are located in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Orange Park. Buyer Rowe previously managed Winn-Dixie’s SaveRite Grocery Warehouse division before leaving the company in 2003.

“This is a strategic decision in line with our company’s commitment to invest resources only in markets where we can perform as a market leader and earn an acceptable return,” Carl Jablonski, president of Albertsons’ Eastern division, said in a statement.