Two West End Food Lion Grocery Stores Among 113 Slated for Closure

Grocery chain Food Lion’s parent company Delhaize Group announced the closure of 113 underperforming stores across the United States Thursday morning. Two of the stores slated for closure are in the West End. One of those is in the immediate Short Pump area.

January 12, 2012; 3:06 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

Grocery chain Food Lion’s parent company Delhaize Group announced the closure of 113 underperforming stores across the United States Thursday morning. Two of the stores slated for closure are in the West End. One of those is in the immediate Short Pump area.

The Food Lion on Ridgefield Parkway in the Gleneagles Center will close under the plan, along with another store east of the area on Quioccasin Road, adjacent to Regency Square Mall.

“After a thorough review of our store portfolio, we have decided to close or convert a number of stores in the U.S. and in Southeastern Europe during the first quarter of 2012,” said Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Group.

Beckers added that his company is conscious of the ripples store closures will cause. “For a retailer, it is never an easy decision to close stores as we are fully aware of the impact on our associates, our customers and the communities we serve.”

A 2011 study by industry publication Food World found Food Lion holds the top share of grocery customers in the Richmond market, at 35%. Martin’s was second at the time of publication with a 29% share.

The store at 10470 Ridgefield Parkway made headlines in 2008 when a non-load bearing wall collapsed during interior renovations. No one was injured.

No word on a closing date for either store.

January 12, 2012 3:06 PM 0