Supervalu to Sell Jewel-Osco Stores

Jewel-Osco parent company Supervalu on Thursday announced it will sell the grocery store chain—along with its Albertsons, Acme, Shaw’s and Star Market chains—in a $3.3 billion deal.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Supervalu reported a loss of $1.04 billion for fiscal year 2012, including a $519 million operating loss, and a 3 percent sales decline, to $27.9 billion, last year.

The grocery stores, plus affiliated in-store Osco and Sav-On pharmacies, are being sold to a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management, according to the Minnesota-based Supervalu.

The deal, which includes $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt, is expected to close this spring, according to the Chicago Tribune. The five grocery store chains will be acquired by Cerberus affiliate AB Acquisition, the paper reported.

After the sale, Sam Duncan will replace current CEO Wayne Sales. Supervalu will continue to own its wholesale grocery business, the Save-A-Lot discount chain and grocery chains, which include Cub, Shop N’ Save and Hornbacher’s.

“The transactions announced (Thursday) represent the successful culmination of the in-depth strategic review process we commenced this past summer,” outgoing CEO Sales said in a press release.

Jewel-Osco’s Elmhurst stores are located at 944 S. York and 153 E. Schiller.