Supermarket giants in NY, NJ and across US to close dozens of underperforming stores

A quick trip to your local grocery store may be on its way out.Supermarkets, both small and large, are shutting down all across the country as chains cut underperforming stores.In an earnings call last year, grocery giant Kroger said it would slash its store count by 60 locations over the next 18 months, citing slow sales.The Cincinnati-based brand owns a slew of local spots, and the company said the closures would primarily affect Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food and Drug, Harris Teeter, Foods Co, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Pick ‘n Save and QFC.The shutters could harm some areas and create what experts call a food desert — where communities have little to no access to stores with affordable, healthy or fresh food.

Amid the closures, Kroger recently acquired Giant Eagle in a $1.65 billion deal and is expected to close sometime next year.Kroger’s acquisition of the Pennsylvania-based chain will add 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies to its existing network, according to Cleveland.com. Discount supermarkets are also taking a hit.Grocery Outlet has been a reliable spot for shoppers as folks can depend on it for massive discounts, including private-label products that have discounts ranging anywhere from 40% off up to 70% off.But customers will soon see fewer of them.

Headquartered in California, the company said in a March earnings call that 36 stores will get the axe — including six in New Jersey — citing underperformance as the main reason for the closures. Jason Potter, Grocery Outlet President and CEO, said on the call that the East Coast would be hit the hardest, with 30% shutting down.While the store didn’t offer up a timeline, the locations were made available by restructuring and investment firm Gordon Brothers.Shortly after the closure announcement, Gordon Brothers put together a list of leases that were made public.Despite the 36 closures, it only accounts for roughly 6% of Grocery Outlet’s lineup, according to Grocery Dive....