Kroger to Buy 20 Farmer Jacks

MARK HAMSTRA

DETROIT — Kroger Co. said yesterday that it had agreed to acquire 20 Farmer Jack stores in this market from A&P for an undisclosed price. The acquisition, which is expected to close in July, had long been anticipated. The stores would become part of the 244-store Great Lakes Division at Cincinnati-based Kroger, which already operates about 72 locations in metro Detroit. It has the No. 1 market share with about 21%, according to Metro Market Studies, Tucson, Ariz. As previously reported, A&P, Montvale, N.J., is seeking to sell all 66 Farmer Jacks in the market, and said it expects to have the deals finalized by about July 7. Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich., continues to “support the interest” of its customers in the market who are seeking to acquire some of the Farmer Jack locations, a spokeswoman for Spartan told SN yesterday.

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