DETROIT -- A&P “could be closer to reaching a deal than anyone is letting on” in seeking a buyer for its 66-unit Farmer Jack chain, said Roger Robinson, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876, in a statement yesterday. The union had secured a promise from A&P two years ago to keep at least 60 of the stores open until this month. Robinson added that A&P “has not been forthcoming” with the union about its plans, and that “there are too many variables involved” to predict precisely what will happen to the stores. Local sources told SN that Kroger could be looking at some locations, and Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich., told SN it may help some of its customers in the area purchase some of the Farmer Jacks.
