Grocery chain closing store

Grocery chain closing store

D&W Fresh Market is one of the store brands by Byron Center-based SpartanNash. Courtesy SpartanNash

A grocery store in the region is closing.

Byron Center-based SpartanNash on Tuesday notified associates at its D&W Fresh Market store at 525 Romence Rd. in Portage that the store will close in mid March.

Its 51 part- and full-time associates will be given the opportunity to pursue other employment within SpartanNash’s retail, distribution or corporate support services operations.

Meredith Gremel, VP of corporate affairs and communications for SpartanNash, said 10 Portage employees so far have been offered positions, and “SpartanNash’s retail management and human resources teams are working with the remainder to facilitate positions within the company.”

“Decisions like this are never easy, and this should not be taken as a reflection of the commitment of our Portage associates or those at any other D&W Fresh Market location,” Gremel said, noting SpartanNash “remains firmly committed to the D&W Fresh Market banner.”

The decision to close the Portage store is part of SpartanNash’s previously announced retail rationalization plan designed “to support the growth and sustainability” of SpartanNash’s 159 corporate-owned stores in eight states, she said.

The remaining D&W stores are performing well, Gremel said, and the company has “no plans for further D&W store sales or closures.”

“We will keep associates informed of the transition process as we move forward,” Gremel said.

SpartanNash

SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a distributor of grocery products to independent and chain grocery retailers, its corporate-owned stores and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges.

It serves customer locations in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Europe, Bahrain, Djibouti and Egypt.

SpartanNash also operates 159 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of Family Fare Supermarkets, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market.

The company had 2018 revenue of $8.06 billion.