The Fresh Market to close 15 stores

The Fresh Market announced yesterday that it plans to close 15 stores in nine states. None of the closings are in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware.

The closings are expected to take place in the next two to four weeks. Four of the stores are in Illinois, two in Georgia, two in Virginia, and one each in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Tennessee.

There are currently five Fresh Market stores in Pennsylvania, two in New Jersey and one in Delaware.

"Over the last eight months, our company has been executing a turnaround plan, and we've seen great progress," said CEO Larry Appel. "However, for a variety of reasons unique to each retail location, that progress is not evenly distributed and, as a result, we have decided to close these long-term under-performing stores."

The Fresh Market, which currently operates 176 stores in 24 states, has had several stores closings in recent years as competition - both online and brick-and-mortar - has adversely impacted sales.

A&P to save $50 million in new deal with C&S

Just six months after citing its agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers as a significant contributor to its Chapter 11 filing in December, A&P announced that it has entered into a new supply and logistics agreement with the New Hampshire-based supplier. The new contract is expected to take effect once A&P emerges from bankruptcy and will generate savings of up to $50 million per year, according to the grocery company. The agreement is subject to bankruptcy court approval.

In other words, A&P and C&S are on their way to being friends again.