D.C. region braces for closure of Shoppers stores

[jazz lady]

Shopping centers across the D.C. area are bracing for the impending closure of most of Shoppers Food & Pharmacy stores as the chain’s parent company gets out of the retail business.

Some of the Shoppers stores have already been taken over by Giant, and some others are expected to sell to other grocery outlets, though there’s little information available at this time on which stores will be sold and when that will happen.

But Shoppers' parent company United Natural Foods Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) said on a recent earnings call it expects to have finished selling off the Shoppers stores within months.

"We're making great progress on divesting our retail assets," UNFI CEO Steve Spinner said on a March 6 earnings call. "I'd say that we're well down the path on selling Shoppers and I'm confident we'll get that done in the coming months."

That doesn't mean that all the Shoppers stores will close suddenly, but rather, it does appear that the company is aggressively pursuing deals to sell locations.

UNFI acquired Shoppers’ former parent company, SuperValu, in October, but SuperValu had already been shifting its focus to wholesale before the combination.

The changes will have a significant impact on the D.C.-area grocery business, however, given that there are 36 Shoppers stores across Greater Washington and Baltimore. In terms of market share, Shoppers is the fifth largest grocer in the D.C. region.

https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/03/20/d-c-region-braces-for-closure-of-shoppers-stores.html

I will miss Shoppers and hope the one in San Souci will remain a grocery store. I wonder what will happen to BuddyLee.

 

[Kyle]

If they close it, where will the migratory populations get all their strange alien vegetables?

 

[jazz lady]

If they close it, where will the migratory populations get all their strange alien vegetables?

I like those strange alien veggies, TYVM.

 

[Kyle]

I like those strange alien veggies, TYVM.

I dont' eat anything that I have to identify by way of Aztec and Mayan hieroglyphics

I'll never forgive the Ex for quinoa.

 

[vraiblonde]

Shopper's fried chicken going away???

 

[jazz lady]

I dont' eat anything that I have to identify by way of Aztec and Mayan hieroglyphics

What? No jicama and nopal salad for you?

I'll never forgive the Ex for quinoa.

Now THAT is pretty unforgiveable.

 

[jazz lady]

Shopper's fried chicken going away???

I know!

 

[RoseRed]

Shopper's fried chicken going away???

And the giant donuts.

 

[black dog]

If they close it, where will the migratory populations get all their strange alien vegetables?

Hopefully back in their homeland.

 

[stgislander]

And the giant donuts.

 

[Gilligan]

I dont' eat anything that I have to identify by way of Aztec and Mayan hieroglyphics

I'll never forgive the Ex for quinoa.

Da fuq is a "quinoa"?

 

[SamSpade]

Da fuq is a "quinoa"?

Think of bitter brown rice that taste a little like dirt.

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

And the giant donuts.

With a hole? Vrai doesn't like the ones with holes.

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

D.C. region braces for closure of Shoppers stores

And another thing. What is it with reporters using the word "brace" out of context anyways? Ahhhhhhhhhhhh the shy is falling. Brace brace brace. What is actually being braced anyway? Why not say, 'Shoppers scurry to find other stores to fill grocery needs' instead? Sh-t like this drives me crazy.