The company that operates Food Lion said Thursday it plans to close 113 stores, including 29 in Georgia.
The affected Georgia stores, which are throughout the state, will close within 30 days, according to Delhaize America, based in Salisbury, N.C. Food Lion's decision will affect approximately 1,000 workers in Georgia, a company spokeswoman told the AJC.
Metro Atlanta stores slated to close include those in College Park, Conyers, Dallas, Douglasville, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville and Marietta and two in Newnan.
Other closings are in Carrollton, Gainesville, Jefferson, Evans, Chatsworth, Fort Oglethorpe, Rossville, Trenton, Garden City and Rincon and two in Martinez.
Elsewhere in Georgia, Food Lions will close in Macon, Warner Robins, Waycross and Savannah.
Twenty-seven Food Lion stores will remain open in Georgia, according to Christy Phillips-Brown, company spokeswoman.
The company plans to increase the number of Food Lion stores in other states by converting Bloom and Bottom Dollar Food stores to Food Lion, specifically in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. After these actions are complete, Food Lion will operate in 10 states and have 1,127 stores.
"While these were difficult decisions given the impact on our associates, customers and communities, we believe these actions will enable us to better serve our customers in our markets with high density, while positioning the company for future growth," Ron Hodge, CEO of Delhaize America, said in a statement.
Delhaize America currently has more than 1,600 stores in 16 states in the eastern U.S.
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