Giant to Buy 2 Genuardi’s

JON SPRINGER

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant of Carlisle continued its expansion toward Philadelphia — and Genuardi’s its retreat — as Giant on Thursday announced an agreement to take over two Bucks County Genuardi’s stores from Safeway.

The stores, located in Feasterville, Pa., and Warrington, Pa., are scheduled to close Nov. 13, Giant said. Both will undergo remodels and reopen under the Giant banner in the first quarter of 2011. A purchase price was not disclosed.

Current Genuardi’s workers will have the opportunity to transfer to other Genuardi’s stores, Giant said. If the workers choose not to transfer, they will have an opportunity to interview for a position with Giant.

With the sale of the two stores, Genuardi’s will operate 29 stores and one freestanding pharmacy — down from 36 supermarkets earlier this year. Maryanne Crager, a spokeswoman for Genuardi’s, said the stores were identified as “underperforming” by Safeway, the banner’s Pleasantville, Calif.-based owner. “The sale will help shore up our resources for our other locations,” she told SN.

Giant in the meantime has been steadily pushing toward metro Philadelphia with new stores and acquisitions.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to expand our presence in the greater Philadelphia region,” Rick Herring, president of Giant, said in a statement.