Food City Pushing Forward On Conversion Of Former Bi-LOs

Monday, August 31, 2015

Food City employees, still wearing their old BI-LO shirts, work quickly to stock the frozen meat section Monday at the Dayton Boulevard store
photo by M.A. Locke

The conversion of area BI-LO stores to Food City accelerates this week as workers at the four stores in the first phase rush to get their stores ready to reopen.

At the Food City store on Dayton Boulevard in Red Bank on Monday, Senior VP Jesse Lewis said that customers can expect hundreds of price reductions.

Mr.

Lewis has a Chattanooga history - 25 years ago he was a vice president at Red Food, which was later bought by BI-LO.

Unlike BI-LO, Mr. Lewis said that some Food City stores may later add fuel stations, depending on negotiations with property owners and lot size limitations. He said some fuel centers could be located a few blocks away if they are not able to use the grocery building lot.

Like BI-LO, Food City has discounted store brands, including Food City and Food Club labels. Food City also offers “legacy brands,” one of which, Kay’s Ice Cream, had a long history in the Chattanooga area with the Kay’s Kastles stores.

The launch plan goal for the new stores, subject to change, is as follows:

Week of September 2-9:

8634 Hwy. 58, Harrison

3901 Dayton Blvd., Red Bank

8530 Hixson Pike, Hixson

3600 Hixson Pike

Week of September 16:

5604 Hixson Pike

4510 Hwy. 58

703 Signal Mt. Rd.

3715 Ringgold Rd. East Ridge

3801 Tennessee Ave.