Food City announced yesterday that it plans to acquire Cooke's family of stores in the greater Cleveland area. The suite of stores includes five Fresh n' Low locations, as well as the Cooke's Food Store & Pharmacy.
The stores range in size from 15,000 to 35,000 square feet and are family owned and operated. The original location has been operational since 1936.
“We're extremely excited to add the Cooke's family of stores to our existing Food City locations, which have served the Cleveland community for many years. We plan to make some large investments in the greater Cleveland area to ensure the future success of our new teammates,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer, in a statement.
Cooke's locations are known for fresh-cut meats, deli, produce, pharmacy services, and their community involvement.
“On behalf of the entire family, we thank the Cleveland community, our customers, and our employees for your loyalty and support,” said Dan Cooke of Cooke's Food Store in a statement. “It has been a privilege to serve you for the past 86 years. We are grateful that our employees will have the opportunity to continue our commitment to the community.”
The acquisition is expected to be finalized by October 1. While Food City plans to invest in the greater Cleveland markets, the name and look of the stores will remain unchanged for the near future.
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