By Janet Kim
OLD HICKORY, Tenn. - The closing of 25 Food
Lion grocery stores in Tennessee and greatly reducing operations at a distribution
center in Clinton is displacing about 1,100 workers.
Belgian supermarket chain
Delhaize said Thursday it is cutting almost 5,000 jobs in the United States as
it closes some Food Lion, Bloom and Bottom Dollar Food stores within the next
30 days.
The Food Lion in Old Hickory is one of nine in the mid-state and 25 across Tennessee that will close its doors in the next 30 days.
Food Lion stores in Crossville, Clarksville , Hendersonville, Lewisburg, Old Hickory, Smyrna, Sparta and two in Murfreesboro are all on the list.
The closures are part of Food Lion's parent company, Delhaize America, to regroup after another disappointing quarter of revenues and an increase in competitive activity.
In total, 113 underperforming Food Lion Stores across the country will be closing.
The Food Lion president said it's focusing on repositioning the business for future growth. The company said this is its way of strengthening its brand and its U.S. portfolio.
Food Lion spokeswoman
Christy Phillips-Brown said a severance package is being offered to eligible
employees affected by the parent company's decision to close underperforming
stores.
Phillips-Brown said 32
Food Lion stores with about 1,300 employees in Tennessee will continue
operating.
The closings in Tennessee
include some stores in the Chattanooga area, Cleveland, Knoxville, Clinton,
Crossville, Maryville, Morristown, Sevierville, Clarksville, Hendersonville,
Lewisburg, Murfreesboro, Old Hickory, Smyrna, Sparta, Greeneville and Johnson City.
Delhaize will also discontinue operations of its distribution center in Clinton, Tennessee.
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