SuperValu Consolidates Operations of Ailing Shoppers Food & Pharmacy and Farm Fresh Supermarket Chains
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – SuperValu is consolidating operations and merchandising for two of the company’s banners, laying off nearly half of the company’s staff between its Farm Fresh and Shoppers stores.
“Everything will look and feel the same” to customers, Jeff Swanson, Vice President, Communications and Enterprise Learning, told The Virginia-Pilot. Swanson noted that Mickey Nye, President of Farm Fresh, would stay at the company’s Virginia Beach headquarters and become Regional Vice President of Operations for SuperValu—overseeing Farm Fresh, Shoppers, and Shop ‘n Save stores.
SuperValu will eliminate 21 of 44 merchandising and operations jobs in Virginia Beach. Meanwhile, buying decisions for Farm Fresh and Shoppers stores will be made at Shoppers’ Bowie, Maryland headquarters—which will hire an additional 14 employees.
The company noted no plans to rebrand or close Farm Fresh or Shoppers stores.
As we reported last week, SuperValu’s increasing focus on distribution and efforts to consolidate operations may be signals that the company is looking for suitors to potentially acquire the business. Reports that SpartanNash or United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) could be preparing to purchase the retailers’ parent have been swirling.
Is this latest move part of a strategic effort to court suitors? AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date with the latest developments.
