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Bottom Dollar selling to Aldi; Severance offered to employees

The parent company of Bottom Dollar Food announced Wednesday that it’s selling all 66 stores in Pennsylvania, including its 20 stores in the Pittsburgh region, to competitor Aldi Inc.
Bottom Dollar will continue to operate until the end of the year, when all the stores will close, the Delhaize Group announced.
Bottom Dollar will offer severance and career transition services for its 2,200 employees. Employees were notified Wednesday night.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A news release was issued Wednesday night saying:

Delhaize Group, the parent company of Bottom Dollar Food, announced today that it has entered into a transaction to sell Bottom Dollar Food's 66 store locations and associated lease liabilities to ALDI Inc. As a result of the transaction, Delhaize Group will no longer operate in the discount segment of food retail inthe United States. Today's announcement is consistent with Delhaize Group's previously stated strategy of focusing on its core operations in the traditional supermarket segment. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015.

At this time, Bottom Dollar Food anticipates all stores will remain open until year-end. After that time, Bottom Dollar Food will close the stores and retire the banner's operations. Upon the closing of stores, Bottom Dollar Food will offer every associate severance, and eligible associates will be offered career transition services.

"This decision was difficult given the impact on our associates, customers and communities in which we operate," said Gene Faller, vice president of retail operations for Bottom Dollar Food. "We want to thank our associates, customers and communities for their support over the past four years."

Bottom Dollar Food opened its first store in King of Prussia, Pa., on Oct. 8, 2010, and currently has 46 stores in greater Philadelphia, Pa., and 20 stores in greater Pittsburgh, Pa. The banner currently employs about 2,200 associates.

The announcement of the sale has left a lot of shoppers very upset.

“You can get all kinds of fresh vegetables and fresh food here. It’s not just boxed stuff,” said Cynthia Bartlone.

When Bartlone found out that the Bottom Dollar she uses was closing, she said she was crushed.

“Take a look at this. It’s only $1 and it’s good for my son,” she said.

Bottom Dollar had a brief stint in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Most of the stores opened in 2002.

“It’s a nice community store. It’s what we need in this community,” Gene Hydrick said.

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