I wonder if Bi-Lo rainchecks will be honored....assume so > u got opinions on the apparant sale of Bi-Lo 2 Food Lion?

[cpnmaniac44]

according to the report, Bi-Lo would be integrated into the Food Lion system.
Well Bloom is part of the Food Lion system.
I live in upper York County and in nearby Rock Hill there are 4 Food Lion and 3 Bi-Lo's.

>>>> Looking for informative discussions on what would happen there

Close all the Bi-Lo's and sell the buildings to Kroger? Publix?

What about coupons....?....Food Lion stinks and well, you know what we got with Bi-Lo.

And then there is Fort Mill, 1 Bloom, 1 Bi-Lo, and 2 Food Lion (Tega Cay and Indian Land).
Lot's of stores in those two cities, a total of 12 stores. Some would have to go.
I love my Bi-Lo, though they do not triple any more.

Bloom is supposedly an upscale Food Lion and the "prices" reflect that. We know the philosophy of the Food Lion owner's like a limit of TWO on alot of sales and no doubles.
This could be the worst news since Winn Dixie left town.

[cpnmaniac44]

sadly.....what will be, will be......

next time, the news may be that all manufacturers are changing the upc codes from a 5 to a 9.....end of the party.

[nanshaw2001]

Please expound on " according to the report ". This has me a little nervous. I have a great relationship at my BI-lo and a 20 year Bi-lo vet for a manager = probably a good resource for the truth. Please tell us any more that you know. Thanks !

[judystock]

I live in York/Lake Wylie. I would hate to lose our Bi-Lo. I only go to Food Lion when their specials are super good....not very often! :hysterical:

[cpnmaniac44]

Please expound on " according to the report ". This has me a little nervous. I have a great relationship at my BI-lo and a 20 year Bi-lo vet for a manager = probably a good resource for the truth. Please tell us any more that you know. Thanks !

The Associated Press: Belgium's Delhaize in talks for BI-LO assets (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jqviD9quHnJqQvy-ayR6YxRdmLtwD9B50G7O0)

Belgian international food retailer Delhaize Group is in talks to buy shops and inventory worth $425 million from South Carolina-based BI-LO, a grocery chain that entered bankruptcy proceedings earlier this year.
In a statement Monday, Delhaize Group said it was in non-binding talks to acquire "a substantial majority" of BI-LO's assets. It said the assets to be acquired had revenue of over $2 billion last year.
Delhaize said it intends to integrate BI-LO's shops into its Food Lion chain of shops. Food Lion has more than 1,300 stores in 11 states with 74,000 employees.
Mauldin, S.C.-based BI-LO LLC is a privately held company that operates 214 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee and employs around 15,500 people. It filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in March.
Delhaize said the offer was subject to bankruptcy court approvals and that it hoped to complete a transaction after obtaining a non-appealable sale order from the court.
BI-LO president and CEO Michael Byars confirmed the company had signed a letter of intent, subject to conditions, with Delhaize. He added that some creditors and lenders have put forward alternative restructuring proposals.
"BI-LO remains focused on maximizing the value of the estate for the benefit of all BI-LO stakeholders," Byars said in a statement. "All options for BI-LO remain under consideration and we believe it is important to carefully review our options and determine the most appropriate course of action."


JUST use Google and search Bi-Lo store chain for sale to find articles. I'm sure the details are yet to be worked out but you can easily read from above:
Delhaize said it intends to integrate BI-LO's shops into its Food Lion chain of shops. Food Lion has more than 1,300 stores in 11 states with 74,000 employees

[cpnmaniac44]

I live in York/Lake Wylie. I would hate to lose our Bi-Lo. I only go to Food Lion when their specials are super good....not very often! :hysterical:

if your 2 stores are close together you may lose one of them. If York can handle another store another chain may come in.
Maybe, they let the Bi-Lo's stay the way they are in every respect and just rake in the profits, BUT, Bi-Lo is declaring bankruptcy. So, the new owners may say DOWN with this doubling of coupons, it's costing us too much money. We want these store to run like Food Lion.

[becca593]

I will be very upset, I'm in Charlotte, I have 2 Bi-Los close and I don't know how many FL, I don't like FL. BiLo atleast doubles every day. HT will just get ALL my shopping.

[cpnmaniac44]

so you see from the article...1300 Food Lions and only 214 Bi-Lo's. I'm in the stock market and watch business all day. Sounds like many Bi-Lo's will close. In cities that have no Food Lion, but they have a Bi-Lo, the Bi-Lo may become a Food Lion.
MAYBE since Super Bi-Lo's seem nicer to me than Food Lions they might make Bloom's out of the Bi-Lo's, at least Bloom triples or super doubles now and then. Or did. They seem to triple every week down near Greenville-Anderson.

WOULD they change alot of the 1300 Food Lion's to Bi-Lo's?
NOOOOO!

[clamre]

That would really stink. Bi-Lo sometimes beats Wal-mart on catfood prices. Food Lion has some great deals but not like Bi-Lo. Ingles doubles up to .50 with restrictions.

[lovelace]

I am so sad

[mxmom99]

*cries* NNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hotpostalchick]

This would be a big blow to my wallet. All we have within 45 miles is 2 Mom n Pop grocery stores, Bilo, Food Lion and Ingles. I only run into FL for freebies/cheapies or meat (which is not often) and I never go to Ingles because their coupon policy SUCKS!........... My friend works for Bi-lo corporate in SC and she says Bi-lo will not tell them anything. They've known for months that something is going to happen but they won't tell their corporate employees anything. Not even after this news. Sad.

[meluvdeals]

:sad:this makes me VERY sad!! I drive about 15 miles to go to a Bi-Lo in the next town - but the freebies make it worth the drive. I sure hope they do not change that Bi-Lo to a food lion....

[trishgil]

This is a TOTAL Bummer! Food Lion doesn't offer very many good free/cheap deals at all. I am seriously gonna miss my BL!

[uummm]

Around where I live (Denver/Stanley NC outside of Charlotte) most of our BL are either across the street from a Food Lion (Stanley) or within a mile (Lincolnton and Huntersville).
I don't have a BiLo close to me I have to drive about 15 minutes to get to it, and only 3 minutes to get to HT and FL. I do love Bilo's double coupon, and you would think before they entered bankruptcy they would have tried to buckle down on the double coupons like most of the local competitors that only allow 3-4 like to be doubled. Though I have noticed they have cracked down on the Self checkout and no longer allow customers to scan thier own coupons.

I guess if this went through it would be one less store for me to moderate, though I actually liked this store!

[maryccc]

I'm going to cry

[tori729]

Yeah, I heard this on the radio, didn't know what kind of impact it would have. Around here, we have a Bi-Lo on every corner, one is even right across from Bloom, and there is one Food Lion in a neighboring town. The only good thing I can see coming from this is Publix would have to accept FL competitor qs b/c it would be considered a competitor!

I don't shop at FL, it's too far away. I've heard they have some good deals, but nothing spectacular. I'm just glad we have Publix and Bloom here.

[lisa_couponer]

I'm not happy about this news. I hope that they will continue to manage Bi-Lo the way they have in the past and keep the deals they've had and continue to keep their same coupon policy. But one has to wonder. If they have filed Chaper 11 then somethings may very well change.

[cpnmaniac44]

I'm not happy about this news. I hope that they will continue to manage Bi-Lo the way they have in the past and keep the deals they've had and continue to keep their same coupon policy. But one has to wonder. If they have filed Chaper 11 then somethings may very well change.

here is my prediction. With over 1300 Food Lion stores and only 214 Bi-Lo stores (and 5 of those Bi-Lo's are within 15 miles of me to show you how small the Bi-Lo universe is) and the plan is "integration" then it should mean the Bi-Lo stores will be "absorbed" into the Food Lion system.

1. Any city that has a Bi-Lo and no Food Lion, that store may stay open and become a Food Lion.
2. Any city with one of each like York, they may both stay open if the town can support both stores. Both would become Food Lion. Ex: Rock Hill has 4 Food Lions. If York, SC can handle two, and they are not that close together, you may see two Food Lions in York.
3. Where Bi-Lo's are near the "competitors" like Harris Teeter and Lowes, you may see Bi-Lo's turned into the upscale Food Lion stores which are Bloom. Nice stores, high prices, weekly ads not exciting like Bi-Lo.
4. If Bi-Lo is bankrupt the new owners will do anything to find out why. And I'd think double coupons is DEAD. None of the Food Lions in my area have ever doubled. I once asked why. They said "we do not need to." So, MAYBE they prefer stores that barely make much money and they get rich because they have so many stores, or Food Lion prices get people in there. I shop Food Lion but rarely. Some good deals, but no doubles and alot of their sale items have limits.
5. Rock Hill, S.C. should be in trouble. There are 4 Food Lions and 3 of these are within 1 mile or so of a Bi-Lo. They may move the Food Lions into the nicer Bi-Lo buildings that have the better locations and close the Food Lions. No room in Rock Hill for 7 Food Lions and if you count the one on Hwy 160, 4 miles from Cherry Road you got 8 of them.

All good things come to an end............:sad:

My food dollars will go to Harris Teeter first..........
since they do double up to .99
Then Lowes, they double to.
Then in 3rd place, I guess Bloom if they will triple or super double once a month or at least once a year.
Last place is Food Lion, Walmart and Target. And we have a Compare Foods. They have good deals too.
No one has B1G1 like Bi-Lo. It was a dream when they, and HT were taking turns tripling and Rock Hill had 2 HT and 3 Bi-Lo. Now HT has to force themselves to triple now and then and Bi-Lo quit along time ago.
Lowes stopped tripling due to "cheating". Even now, if you have a coupon you can not use the self scans.

[llthrel]

if your 2 stores are close together you may lose one of them. If York can handle another store another chain may come in.
Maybe, they let the Bi-Lo's stay the way they are in every respect and just rake in the profits, BUT, Bi-Lo is declaring bankruptcy. So, the new owners may say DOWN with this doubling of coupons, it's costing us too much money. We want these store to run like Food Lion.


I sure hope not. I love the Lake Wylie store too Judystock! I would miss my bilo and doubles. This is my fav grocery for the best deals.:sad: Food lion around here needs to learn DOUBLES. We also have 3 stores in Gastonia.

[ryansmommie]

It will certainly make Charlotte a less competitive grocery store market. IMO, it's a very competitive market right now and that's why we can get such great deals. Let's hope Food Lion and Harris Teeter continue to battle it out.

Michelle

[cpnmaniac44]

It will certainly make Charlotte a less competitive grocery store market. IMO, it's a very competitive market right now and that's why we can get such great deals. Let's hope Food Lion and Harris Teeter continue to battle it out.

Michelle


BI-LO Up For Sale
Lone Star Funds Evaluating Deal
posted April 10, 2007

>>>>>>>> They've been for sale since April.

Delhaize already generates most of its profit and sales in the United States, where it also operates the Hannaford and Sweet Bay chains.

>>>>>>>> Anyone know the coupon policies at Hannaford? We had one of those and it closed in only a few months. Run out of town by Bi-Lo and Harris Teeter (maybe)


Rick Anicetti, executive vice president of Delhaize Group and president and CEO of Food Lion, LLC, said, "We at Food Lion, LLC have great admiration for the associates and stores at BI-LO. We believe our markets and service philosophy are complementary and we look forward to continuing our discussions with BI-LO."

>>>>> SAME SERVICE PHILOSOPHY...?... my foot, unless and sales and coupon acceptance is a part of service. Because my Food Lion and Bi-Lo are like night and day.
All my Food Lion employees are great, good customer service. But when it comes to savings Bi-Lo is tops.

One thing about my Food Lion, is even though they have some good sales, they put limits like 2 or 4. B1G1 free might say limit 2 free.


FROM HERE:
Bi-Lo's 5-year plan includes possible sale The Post and Courier - Charleston SC newspaper (http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/27/scbilo90439/)
you see:
In addition, Bi-Lo said its market share was increasing and earnings were improving as a result of stronger sales trends and cost-reduction initiatives.
NOTE THE "stronger sales trends" = coupon users !!!

from another story:
>>>> It is unclear what will happen with the Bi-Lo name on existing stores as part of the purchase <<<< but Delhaize said "it is the intent of Delhaize Group to integrate the included BI-LO assets in the network of its wholly owned subsidiary Food Lion, LLC."

[cpnmaniac44]

in cities right now, that have both Food Lions and Bi-Lo's, they ARE co-existing.
MAYBE they leave the Bi-Lo's as they are.....if they did, in fact, leave Hannaford stores the way they were.
But in Rock Hill, S.C. all 3 Bi-LO's are within a mile or so of a Food Lion. That does not add up in that particular city.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, I talked with my BiLo manager today and this is what he said, The company that owns Food Lion is one of four that are interested in purchasing BiLo at this time. He also said that I wouldn't notice the difference if the sale went through, their BiLo policies would remain the same and they would be in competition with Food Lion just like they are now. He sounded knowledgeable about this and I was relieved to hear what he had to say. I so hope he is right. Much as I have tried, I just can't warm up to Food Lion.

[hotpostalchick]

My friend works for Bilo corporate. She said they were told that Food Lion was too quick opening their mouth on this as there are more companies in talks with buying Bilo, not just FL.

[mxmom99]

Well, I talked with my BiLo manager today and this is what he said, The company that owns Food Lion is one of four that are interested in purchasing BiLo at this time. He also said that I wouldn't notice the difference if the sale went through, their BiLo policies would remain the same and they would be in competition with Food Lion just like they are now. He sounded knowledgeable about this and I was relieved to hear what he had to say. I so hope he is right. Much as I have tried, I just can't warm up to Food Lion.

My friend works for Bilo corporate. She said they were told that Food Lion was too quick opening their mouth on this as there are more companies in talks with buying Bilo, not just FL.

sweet!! im glad to hear both of those things since bi-lo is the main store i shop!!

[justamom2six]

I talked with my favorite Bi-Lo manager today. He told me that the company that currently ownes Bi-Lo was putting in a bid of their own. This is far from a done deal and Bi-Lo hopes to remain as it is!