Bi-Lo on the Block: Source

JON SPRINGER

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Bi-Lo, the supermarket chain that recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, is again up for sale and has drawn interest from competitors Kroger and Publix, a source with knowledge of the situation told SN Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Publix, Lakeland, Fla., on Tuesday told SN that the company was not actively engaged in the purchase of Bi-Lo. A Kroger spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

Bi-Lo is owned by Lone Star Funds, a Dallas-based private equity investor. Lone Star retained control of the chain during a 13-month restructuring under Chapter 11 bankruptcy that ended in May. Delhaize Group's Food Lion chain had made an offer to acquire Bi-Lo during the bankruptcy process, but a source told SN Tuesday it was unknown whether Delhaize would bid again.

Lone Star, which acquired Bi-Lo from Ahold in 2005, had marketed the chain for sale before the bankruptcy filing, to no avail. The chain operates 207 supermarkets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.