Three Food Lion stores to begin transition to Weis

Three Cape Region Food Lion grocery stores are set to close Friday, Oct. 7, as the stores begin the transition into Weis Markets. 

Signs have been posted on the doors of the stores in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Long Neck, stating the stores will close at 11 p.m., Oct. 7, and will remain closed until Friday, Oct. 14, when they will reopen as Weis Markets. The Millville store is also being converted to a Weis, but the transition date could not be confirmed. 

Food Lion stores were sold to the Pennsylvania-based grocer as the result of a merger between Delhaize Group, parent company of Food Lion, and Ahold, parent company of Giant. It was announced July 13 that the companies had reached agreements with buyers to sell 86 stores in the Mid-Atlantic where the companies both operate. 

Founded in 1912, Weis Markets is a Mid-Atlantic food retailer operating 171 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia, Virginia and now Delaware. 

“Once the conversions are completed over the next two months, we will have nearly doubled our Maryland store count and expanded into Virginia and Delaware,” said Kurt Schertle, Weis Markets’ chief operating officer, in a press release. “Our goal is to build on our advantages as a locally focused retailer that offers a strong combination of quality, value and service. As part of this commitment, we plan to expand variety in every department.”

Weis Markets is planning to hire more than 2,000 current Food Lion employees.

“We are reaching out to the Food Lion associates who work in these stores and look forward to hiring and ultimately welcoming them to our company,” Schertle said. “It’s an exciting time for our company as we grow and expand into new territories, and we’re grateful to our associates and loyal customers for their continued support.”