SALISBURY — A food industry publication is reporting that Delhaize America, the Salisbury-based parent company of Food Lion, is considering selling its Bottom Dollar Food discount division.
Bottom Dollar is also headquartered in Salisbury.
Food Trade News reported Tuesday that Delhaize is exploring the sale of its 66 Bottom Dollar stores in Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northeast Ohio.
The publication based its report on unidentified retailers who had been sent “deal sheets” late last month. According to several retailers who were sent real estate profile sheets in late July, all bids for the Bottom Dollar Foods stores were due by Aug. 13, Food Trade News said.
Delhaize had no comment.
“Consistent with established policy, our company does not comment on rumors or speculation regarding plans to acquire or divest businesses,” spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown said.
Last year, Delhaize sold 155 stores under the Harveys, Sweetbay and Reid’s brands to rival Bi-Lo.
The Bottom Dollar “soft discount” concept expanded quickly between 2010 and 2013, but new Delhaize CEO Frans Muller has focused investment on U.S. brands Food Lion and Hannaford. Muller has said Bottom Dollar needs to prove it can be profitable before deciding on next steps.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.