Food Lion Reveals Locations of Store Closings
ek revealed the locations of the 41 stores it plans to close by the end of the month. Tennessee will see the most stores shuttered, with 15 -- including six in Knoxville -- followed by five each in North Carolina and Georgia, four in South Carolina, three in Pennsylvania, two each in Virginia, Florida, Kentucky and Maryland, and one in West Virginia, company officials said. The chain's parent company, Delhaize Group, Brussels, Belgium, said it was closing the underperforming stores, along with one Kash n' Karry outlet, as part of a streamlining effort that also will include the elimination of about 400 support positions by Aug. 1.
Fleming Plans to Replace Colorado Warehouse
DALLAS -- Fleming Cos. here is planning to replace its convenience-store distribution operations in the Denver market after a fire last month destroyed its warehouse in Aurora, Colo., the company told SN last week. Three individuals, including one who had been employed briefly by Fleming last year, face federal arson and conspiracy charges, according to Kevin Hammons, fire marshal at the Aurora Fire Department. He said the three men are accused of setting the fire to cover up the theft of medications containing ingredients that are used to make methamphetamine. A Fleming spokesman said the company had found a potential location for a new facility, which could open as soon as this summer. The warehouse that was destroyed in the blaze was a leased facility, he said, so losses to Fleming were limited to merchandise and business interruption, both of which were covered by insurance.
Kroger Honored for Design Serving The Blind
CINCINNATI -- Kroger here last week said it won The American Foundation for the Blind's 2003 Access Award for building a new store in suburban Cincinnati that makes shopping safer and more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired. The national award recognizes the Kroger store -- built last year in North College Hill near a facility for the blind and visually impaired -- for featuring lower aisle markers, sales fliers in Braille and other accommodations, including textured sidewalks. The award will be presented Feb. 20 at a luncheon in Los Angeles. Kroger worked with the Clovernook Center for the Blind to address the needs of individuals with visual impairments through physical adjustments in the store and special employee training.
Vons.com Expands Into Las Vegas Market
ARCADIA, Calif. -- Vons here expanded its Vons.com online grocery service into the Las Vegas market last week, delivering to 20 ZIP codes in Las Vegas and Henderson. It is charging $9.95 for orders under $150 and $4.95 for orders of $150 or more. The service is provided by GroceryWorks, which is 50% owned by Vons' parent company, Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., and 35% owned by British retailer Tesco.com. Safeway, which offers online grocery delivery in several West Coast markets, debuted Vons.com in Southern California last year.
