Belgian international food retailer Delhaize Group has completed the divestment of its Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s operations to Bi-Lo Holdings for a sum of $246m.
The retailer, which has a presence in nine countries across three continents, posted revenues of E21.1billion and E179m in net profit in 2013.
Bi-Lo Holdings announced last year that it would rebrand Sweetbay and Reid stores as Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo stores. The deal gives Bi-Lo 72 Sweetbay stores, plus leases for 10 prior Sweetbay locations, 72 Harveys stores and 11 Reid’s stores, totalling 165 stores throughout the southeastern United States.
Delhaize Group also completed, in a separate transaction, the sale of its distribution center in Plant City, Florida, to C&S Wholesale Grocers for $28m.
Last week the group announced that Dirk Van den Berghe had decided to resign from his role as ceo of Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg, effective of 31 July 2014.
Frans Muller, group president and ceo, said: “I want to thank Dirk for his significant contributions to Delhaize Group and wish him well in his future endeavours. Our operations in Belgium and Luxembourg have a dedicated and capable management team that is well-equipped to address the challenges we face and to build on opportunities we have to improve our business.”
