Homeland Acquisition Corp., the employee-owned parent company of Homeland Stores, has announced plans to close five grocery locations due to financial performance and limited long-term potential. The closures will affect four stores in Oklahoma and one in Georgia.
In Oklahoma, the impacted locations include Homeland stores in Pauls Valley and Jay, a United Supermarket in Kingfisher, and a Discount Foods in Ponca City. The Piggly Wiggly in Gordon, Georgia, will also shut its doors. All five stores are expected to close by August 16th, according to store staff and a Facebook post from the Georgia location.
“It is very unfortunate that we had to make these tough decisions, but our goal is doing the best thing for our company and our employee owners,” said Christin King, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Homeland Acquisition Corp. King noted that the closures were carefully considered, based on store performance and future viability. “By closing these stores, we are able to focus on the greatest opportunities that strengthen other communities, grow communities, and to really strengthen our organization by focusing resources in those areas,” she said.
Homeland Acquisition Corp., headquartered in Oklahoma City, operates 80 stores across Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia under banners including Homeland, Food World, Piggly Wiggly, Discount Foods, Cash Saver, and United Supermarkets. Homeland is the company’s largest banner, with 36 locations and recognition as Oklahoma’s largest locally owned grocery chain.
“We are the largest employee-owned grocer in the state. When you shop at Homeland and when Homeland is successful, you are putting money back into your local community and to those employee owners,” King added. “We are not privately owned, and our employees are there to serve their communities, neighbors and friends.”
Founded in 1987 following a divestiture from Safeway, Homeland Stores has experienced a dynamic history, including a 2002 bankruptcy and a subsequent revival under Associated Wholesale Grocers. In 2011, the company transitioned to employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), continuing to grow through acquisitions of local and independent grocers.
While the closures mark a difficult moment for the affected communities, Homeland Acquisition Corp. remains focused on long-term growth and investment in markets where it sees the strongest potential for success.
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