Md. Attorney General Signs Off On Giant, Food Lion Merger
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland is among six states that have reached a deal with Giant Food's parent company, Koninklijke Ahold, to OK its merger with Delhaize Group, which owns Food Lion supermarkets, the state's Attorney General Brian Frosh announced Monday.
Under a settlement approved by the Federal Trade Commission and the states' attorneys general, the parent companies of both supermarket chains agreed to sell 76 stores, including 26 here in Maryland, to comply with antitrust rules, according to a news release.
RELATED: Weis Markets Will Purchase 38 Food Lion Stores, 21 in Md.
Weis Markets will be acquiring 21 Food Lions, which will become Weis stores; Supervalue, Inc., will acquire four Food Lions in the Hagerstown area and run them as Shop N Saves; and Albertson's will acquire the Giant store in Salisbury and operate it under the Acme banner.
"Entering into this settlement and allowing this merger to be completed with divestitures will ensure a continued and robust competition for the Maryland market," Attorney General Frosh wrote in a statement. "There are numerous Food Lion and Giant stores located through Maryland. This settlement maintains a marketplace with incentives for stores to offer the best prices, service, and merchandise to Maryland consumers."