ABINGDON, Va. — The president and chief executive officer of K-VA-T Food Stores here told a local newspaper that the Food City chain "is not for sale and probably won't be in my lifetime."

Steve Smith was responding to a Knoxville News Sentinel inquiry about Internet rumors that the chain had been acquired by Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla.

Smith said "there was absolutely no truth" to the speculation, which was posted on an Internet message board.

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