By Anthony O. Goriainoff

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV said on Wednesday that its Food Lion brand was buying 62 BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket stores from Southeastern Grocers for an undisclosed amount.

The Netherlands-based owner of grocery chains such as Stop & Shop and Giant Food said that the stores were located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and they will be converted to Food Lion stores as part of the brand's continued expansion in the southeast of the U.S.

The company said Food Lion--which is based in North Carolina and is part of Ahold Delhaize USA--expects to hire over 4,650 employees at the acquired stores, and that as part of the deal it will also acquire a distribution center in Mauldin, South Carolina.

The company added the stores will continue to operate as BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket until the transaction is complete, and that the acquisitions are expected to close in the first half of 2021.

Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 03, 2020 09:57 ET (13:57 GMT)