Giant: Genuardi's Conversion Likely By Mid-2012

The sale of the Newtown Genuardi’s to Giant should be completed by the middle of the year, a spokesman for Giant confirmed Thursday.

Giant, a supermarket chain headquartered in Carlisle, a to purchase 16 Genuardi’s stores in the Greater Philadelphia region. 

Giant spokesman Christopher Brand said the $106 agreement between the two supermarket chains is subject to regulatory approval. When that approval is granted, the conversion process will begin, he said.

“Prior to that, these stores will operate as Genuardi’s,” he said, adding when the conversion takes place, the store will close for approximately a week. 

Brand said during that week, crews will work to improve the store through new technology and other changes that “will reflect the Giant brand,” he said. “Sometimes the refrigerated cases need to be replaced depending on their age and long-term viability.”

Most inventory is included in the sale, except for the Safeway corporate brand items. Genaurdi’s is owned by Safeway. “We will be introducing the Giant brand,” he said.

Giant recently completed a renovation of its store in Middletown Township, located off the Newtown Bypass in the Summit Square Shopping Center. A store in New Hope is also in the process of being renovated.

Brand said he has no information on whether the Newtown store will be renovated and expanded. “Each location will be looked at in its entirety. Those decisions will be made as we get closer to the conversion date. I have not heard of any news of expansion but that’s not to say it wouldn’t happen.”