Andersons closing all stores

The Andersons Inc. said Sunday it would close all four of its Andersons superstores in the Columbus and Toledo, Ohio areas and exit the retail business.

The Andersons stores offer a combination of hardware and home goods, as well as fresh produce, meats and seafood and specialty departments like deli, cheese and wine. Its stores, located in Maumee, Ohio, Toledo and in two locations in Columbus, would close in the second quarter which begins in April.

The Toledo Blade newspaper said the closings represent a “monumental psychological blow to the Toledo area,” where the Andersons was founded and had operated stores for more than 65 years.

The stores did $140 million in sales in 2015, but were a small part of Andersons, a $4.2 billion diversified agriculture company that also has interests in rail, fuel and grain businesses. The retail division posted losses in excess of $20 million over the last eight years, CEO Pat Bowe said in a release announcing the closings.

"The decision to close The Andersons stores was not easy for anyone involved," Bowe said. "Choosing to cease a business that has spanned 65 years and employs about 1,050 people is tremendously difficult."

Earlier this year Giant Eagle said it was closing three stores in Columbus.