Bi-Lo in $265 million deal to buy Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s from Delhaize

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of the Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie grocery store brands, has entered into an agreement to buy three chains from Belgium-based Delhaize Group. Bi-Lo said it would acquire substantially all of the stores in the Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s supermarket chains from Delhaize for $265 million in cash.



The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, includes 72 Sweetbay stores, leases for 10 prior Sweetbay locations, 72 Harveys stores and 11 Reid's stores, for a total of 165 stores and 10,000 employees throughout the Southeast. Bi-Lo Holdings already operates 686 stores.



"Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid's are well-recognized and trusted businesses that share our passion for exceptional service," Bi-Lo Holdings president and CEO Randall Onstead said. "We look forward to welcoming the outstanding associates of all three chains to the Bi-Lo Winn-Dixie family."



The transaction is anticipated to close in fourth quarter 2013.