Ukrop's deal is done; stores to be Martin's

Posted to: Business
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By Carolyn Shapiro
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 9, 2010

Dutch company Ahold has completed its purchase of the family-owned Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. chain, which includes a store in Williamsburg, and plans to change the name of those 25 stores to Martin's this spring, the new owner announced Monday. Ahold USA absorbed Ukrop's into its Giant-Carlisle division, which includes the Giant and Martin's grocery chains in the mid-Atlantic.

Martin's is based in Pennsylvania and has nine stores in Virginia. Ukrop's, which was based in Richmond, will continue to sell products made by the Ukrop family, Ahold said in a release. When Ukrop's becomes Martin's, the chain will overturn two longtime principles of the Ukrop family by opening on Sundays and selling carryout beer and wine.

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Kiss of death

Submitted by Peanutbred on Tue, 02/09/2010 at 11:20 am.

Ahol will destroy Ukrop's just as surely as it turned Giant from a wonderful food-shopping experience into a consumer nightmare. This is Harris Teeter's opportunity to salvage its own slight decline in recent months and seize the Virginia market.