Wis. Jewel-Osco Store Closures Set To Begin March 23
MINNEAPOLIS – Less than three weeks after announcing it was seeking “strategic alternatives” for 15 Jewel-Osco stores in the Milwaukee market, Supervalu Inc. here filed notices with the state of Wisconsin confirming plans to close 10 stores starting March 23.
The move, which will eliminate nearly 1,300 jobs, does not include five stores Supervalu is at present negotiating to sell to Roundy's, two of which are in Milwaukee, with another three in Glendale, New Berlin, and West Allis, Wis.
A Supervalu spokeswoman was quoted in local reports as saying that the retailer is still in discussions with potential buyers for the 10 stores tabbed for closure, although she declined to provide further details.
The 10 separate layoff notices, which were filed with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development earlier this week, came after a "thorough business analysis," according to the filings. Affected employees are represented by Local 1743 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
Now the nation’s third largest grocery chain, behind Kroger and Safeway, Supervalu is undertaking a “rationalization review” of its store base in an effort to better utilize its capital and improve shareholder returns. Jeff Noddle, Supervalu’s chief executive, discussed divestures of stores in select markets, including the 15 corporate Jewel locations currently on the block in Milwaukee, during his remarks on an investor call following the company’s third quarter financial report.
The move, which will eliminate nearly 1,300 jobs, does not include five stores Supervalu is at present negotiating to sell to Roundy's, two of which are in Milwaukee, with another three in Glendale, New Berlin, and West Allis, Wis.
A Supervalu spokeswoman was quoted in local reports as saying that the retailer is still in discussions with potential buyers for the 10 stores tabbed for closure, although she declined to provide further details.
The 10 separate layoff notices, which were filed with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development earlier this week, came after a "thorough business analysis," according to the filings. Affected employees are represented by Local 1743 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
Now the nation’s third largest grocery chain, behind Kroger and Safeway, Supervalu is undertaking a “rationalization review” of its store base in an effort to better utilize its capital and improve shareholder returns. Jeff Noddle, Supervalu’s chief executive, discussed divestures of stores in select markets, including the 15 corporate Jewel locations currently on the block in Milwaukee, during his remarks on an investor call following the company’s third quarter financial report.