Seven grocers in top 30 U.S. private companies

Forbes published its 33rd annual ranking of America's largest private companies, and seven grocers landed in the top 30. (Cargill topped the overall list, with $109.7 billion in sales, followed by Koch Industries).

Albertsons, with several banners including Albertsons, Safeway and Acme, is third on the overall list and the top grocer, with $59.7 billion in sales and 273,000 employees.

Also on the list:

#7: Publix Super Markets
#10: C&S Wholesale Grocers
#12: HE Butt Grocery (H-E-B)
#16: Meijer
#25: Southeastern Grocer (Bi-Lo, Harveys, Winn-Dixie)
#27: Hy-Vee

Bi-Lo to buy three banners from Delhaize

Bi-Lo Holding, which operates Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarket chains in eight southern states, announced yesterday that it has agreed to acquire Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid's stores from Delhaize for $265 million. Delhaize owns Food Lion and Bottom Dollar Food, among others.

According to a Supermarket News report, there are 165 stores included in the transaction that generated revenues of about $1.8 billion last year. The same report claims that Sweetbay currently has 72 stores in Florida, Harveys has 72 stores in Georgia and Florida, and Reid's has 11 stores in California. (72+72+11=155.)

The sale is expected to close later this year, pending regulatory approval.