Bi-Lo Holdings to continue Harveys banner, retire Sweetbay and Reid’s

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie parent Bi-Lo Holdings said it would begin in 2014 the process of converting all Sweetbay stores to the Winn-Dixie name and Reid's stores to Bi-Lo, but that the Harveys banner would remain intact.



The grocery retailer acquired all three banners from Brussels, Belgium-based Delhaize Group last May.



"Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid's have outstanding reputations, and their talented teams of associates have played a key role in making these stores an important part of the communities they serve," said Randall Onstead, president and CEO of Bi-Lo Holdings. "We are pleased to soon welcome the outstanding associates of all three chains to the Bi-Lo Holdings family."



Pending regulatory review, Bi-Lo Holdings intends to retain all store-level associates within the stores being acquired and operated.



The majority of Harveys stores will remain branded as they are today, though a few Harveys stores may convert to the Winn-Dixie or Bi-Lo banner or vice versa.



The transitioning of Sweetbay and Reid's stores to Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo banners is to reduce overlapping footprints, said the company.



The transaction is anticipated to close in first quarter 2014.