Columbia Food Lion Among Stores Included in Merger

Weis Markets is expanding its reach in Maryland, purchasing 21 Food Lion stores in a merger expected to close by late July. Among the stores included in the merger is the Columbia Food Lion on Robert Oliver Place.

Food Lion's parent company Delhaize Group has been weighing options for the Food Lion sites while negotiating a merger with the parent company of rival Giant grocery stores, Ahold.

Both companies are based overseas, but the local stores of the two grocery chains are frequently around the corner from each other.

These Food Lion stores will be converted into Weis markets:
Anne Arundel County: 3261 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater
Allegany County:

• 15300 McMullen Highway SW, Cumberland
• 17600 Old National Square Pike, Frostburg

Baltimore County:

• 9251 Lakeside Boulevard, Owings Mills
• 10 Village Center Road, Reisterstown

Calvert County:

• 210 H G Trueman Road, Lusby
• 13300 H G Trueman Road, Solomons Island
• 750 Prince Frederick Boulevard, Prince Frederick

Carroll County: 6375 Monroe Avenue, Eldersburg
Charles County: 100 Drury Drive, La Plata
Howard County:

• 5896 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
• 750 Prince Frederick Boulevard, Elkridge

Montgomery County:

• 16567 South Frederick Road, Gaithersburg
• 883 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg

Prince George's County:

• 15789 Livingston Road, Accoceek
• 12100 Central Avenue, Mitchelville
• 5715 Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro

St. Mary's County:

• 45315 Alton Lane, California
• 20995 Point Lookout Road, Calloway
• 19 Saint Mary's Square, Lexington Park

Talbot County: 219 Marlboro Avenue, Easton

In March, shareholders of Ahold and Delhaize agreed to the $10.9 million merger. The deal is expected to be completed this month.

Many had assumed the Giant locations would be sold. Instead, it appears those locations will be converted to Food Lion brands. And the existing Food Lion stores will be sold and converted to Weis Markets.

"Selling stores is a difficult part of any merger process, given the impact on our associates, customers and communities in which we operate," Delhaize Group President/CEO Frans Muller said. "We believe we have made every effort to identify strong buyers for these locations, and we want to thank our loyal associates and customers who have shopped our stores and supported us for so many years."

Patch File Photo.