UNFI Enters Agreements to Sell 13 Shoppers Stores

Providence, RI—United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) announced in a press release that it has entered into definitive agreements to sell 13 of its 43 Shoppers Food & Pharmacy stores to three separate grocery operators.

Each of the transactions is expected to close between mid-December and the end of February 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. Shoppers intends to wind down operations at these locations, including the sale of any remaining inventory and closure of the stores prior to reopening under other banners. Two of the buyers will enter into long-term agreements for UNFI to serve as the primary supplier of their acquired Shoppers locations.

At three additional Shoppers stores, UNFI made the decision to not renew the lease; the lease is being cancelled at a fourth, pursuant to agreement with the landlord. All four are expected to cease operations by the end of January 2020, the release says.

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Earlier this year, UNFI closed the 30 Shoppers pharmacies located in the stores, and sold the prescriptions and pharmacy inventories to CVS and Walgreens.

Steven L. Spinner, UNFI Chairman and CEO, said in the release: “Today’s announcement reflects progress on our commitment to reduce UNFI’s retail footprint and marks another step toward transforming UNFI into North America’s premier food wholesaler. We believe that exiting the retail business will further accelerate our business transformation and allow us to more appropriately allocate resources toward long-term growth initiatives. We will continue to wind down our retail footprint in a strategic and thoughtful manner to achieve the goals previously outlined. As we do this, we greatly appreciate the loyalty of our associates and the tremendous service they have provided to our customers.”

List of store sales and closures:

Store Name	Address	City	State	Zip	Store Planned Outcome
Alameda	5600 The Alameda	Baltimore	MD	21239	Sold
Anchor Square	6500 Eastern Ave	Baltimore	MD	21224	Sold
Annapolis	2371 Solomons Island Road	Annapolis	MD	21401	Sold
Brooklyn Park	5722 Ritchie Highway	Brooklyn Park	MD	21225	Sold
Bull Run	10864 Sudley Manor Drive	Manassas	VA	20109	Closing
Colmar Manor	3831 Bladensburg Road	Colmar Manor	MD	20722	Sold
Coral Hills	4801 Marlboro Pike	Capitol Heights	MD	20743	Sold
King Shop	7051 Martin Luther King Jr Highway	Landover	MD	20785	Sold
Lexington Park	22599 MacArthur Boulevard	California	MD	20619	Sold
Liberty Road	8212 Liberty Road	Baltimore	MD	21244	Closing
Oxon Hill	6111 Livingston Road	Oxon Hill	MD	20745	Sold
Potomac Yard	3801 Richmond Highway	Alexandria	VA	22305	Closing
Quarterfield	7858 Quarterfield Road	Severn	MD	21144	Closing
Rolling Valley	9274 Old Keene Mill Road	Burke	VA	22015	Sold
Takoma Park	6881 New Hampshire Avenue	Takoma Park	MD	20912	Sold
Waldorf	1170 Smallwood Drive W	Waldorf	MD	20603	Sold
Wheaton	2201 Randolph Road	Wheaton	MD	20902	Sold

SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.

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