GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Spartan Stores here said last week it hopes to contract for distribution services for part of its customer base with Tibbett & Britten Group, Toronto. Spartan said it is negotiating with TBG to provide distribution for Spartan's eastern Michigan customers out of a new facility in northern Ohio that is scheduled to be built by early 2000. Spartan said TBG would own and operate the facility, while Spartan would own the products stored there.
o Spartan, the new facility would replace Spartan's 480,000-square-foot distribution center in Plymouth, Mich., plus 30% of its perishables facility here.
The company said the changes would affect 300 employees in Plymouth and 100 perishables employees here. Spartan said affected jobs would continue until April 2000, with severance packages offered to those who elect to stay through the transition period. Spartan said the new facility would be built in an as-yet undetermined city in Ohio.