United Closes Two Super Mercados

MARK HAMSTRA

LUBBOCK, Texas — United Supermarkets here said last week it would close its two newest Super Mercado stores in Wichita Falls, Texas, as part of a reorganization of the company.

“We are very much committed to the international/Hispanic format,” United spokesman Eddie Owens told SN last week, adding that the company suspected when it acquired the stores from Brookshire Grocery Co. last year that they might not succeed in the long term.

He said lessons learned from the stores could be applied to other stores in Hispanic markets as the company divides its stores into three divisions, one each for specialty, traditional and international formats. It continues to operate its original United Super Mercado location in Plainview, Texas, which debuted in 2001.

The new international division will comprise a total of 15 stores, including United Supermarket-bannered locations in Hispanic markets. The traditional division will include 21 United Supermarket locations, and the specialty division will include the company's six upscale Market Street stores, plus other United Supermarket-bannered stores merchandised more like Market Street.

The company also said it is expanding the Market Street format in the northern suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Two new stores are planned for Frisco and Allen, slated to near the end of 2007 and in 2008, respectively.

No additional closings are planned, he said.