Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced Monday that Maryland and five other states have reached a settlement allowing the parent companies of Giant Food stores and Food Lion supermarkets to merge.
The proposed merger combines the parent companies of several supermarket chains in the U.S. and Europe. Koninklijke Ahold N.V. is the owner of Giant supermarkets and Delhaize Group NV/SA owns Food Lion.
The State Attorneys General along with the State Attorneys General have required Ahold and Delhaize to divest 76 stores nationwide in order to complete the merger.
Related: Mars Super Markets will close all locations July 31
Twenty-six of the stores required to be divested are in Maryland. Weis Markets will be acquiring 21 Food Lion locations. Supervalue, Inc. will acquire the four Food Lions in the Hagerstown area and operate them as Shop N Saves. Albertson's will acquire the Giant in Salisbury and operate it under the Acme banner.
See also: Weis to buy 38 Maryland, Virginia, Delaware Food Lion stores
“Entering into this Settlement and allowing this merger to be completed with divestitures will ensure a continued and robust competition for the Maryland market,” said Attorney General Frosh. “There are numerous Food Lion and Giant stores located throughout Maryland. This settlement maintains a marketplace with incentives for stores to offer the best prices, service, and merchandise to Maryland consumers.”
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