Massive grocery chain closes more supermarkets, lays off 100s

Major supermarket chains, which have been battling big-box retailers, such as Walmart and Target, for the nation's grocery business, are closing underperforming stores, as well as fulfillment centers and warehouses that they no longer need.The Kroger Co. said it will close three store locations in California in March and lay off 171 workers, according to WARN notices filed with the California Employment Development Department.Kroger in November 2025 also closed nine fulfillment centers across the country and eliminated about 1,700 jobs. The company, which operates about 2,700 supermarkets across 35 states and Washington, D.C., also revealed in June 2025 that it would close 60 stores over 18 months.Another major supermarket chain owner, Ahold Delhaize USA, said that its Giant Food and The Giant Company supermarket chains would close six centralized e-commerce fulfillment centers located in Pennsylvania and Virginia in early 2026, as the grocery chains transition to a local, store-first fulfillment network. Albertsons is closing two supermarkets in North Texas and laying off 138 workers. Albertsons closing 2 Texas storesAlbertsons Companies Inc. has been closing stores as well, as it filed notices with the state of Texas and its employees, notifying them that it will close two North Texas supermarkets and lay off 138 workers by April 25.The Boise, Idaho-based supermarket chain filed Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification notices on March 25 with the state for Store No. 4286 in Fort Worth, Texas, and Store No. 106 in Euless, Texas, asserting the stores will close.In the Euless notice, the company said it informed employees on March 9 that it would close its 1155 N. Main Street store and lay off 82 employees by April 25.Company sends WARN notices"On Monday, March 9, 2026, we had meetings to notify our associates of the closure of Albertsons Store No. 0106," the company wrote in the notice, WFAA-TV reported.The Fort Worth notice said the company will close its store at 6700 W. Freeway and lay off 52 workers on or before April 25.Workers offered other positions"Opportunities for continued employment at other company locations are available and it is our intent to place as many associates as possible," the company wrote in the notice.Albertsons closed two Tom Thumb grocery locations in Plano and Allen, Texas, in 2025, but also opened a Tom Thumb store in Denton, Texas, in December 2025."In such a competitive environment, the company must sometimes make the tough decision to close an underperforming store while reinvesting in the remaining stores in the marketplace," an Albertson's spokesperson told The Dallas Morning News.Albertsons "remains committed to the North Texas market, where significant investments continue, including new store openings." the spokesperson said.The supermarket chain operated 2,243 retail food and drug stores under 22 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Tom Thumb, and Pavilions, in 35 states and the District of Columbia, as of Nov. 29, 2025.Albertsons operated 1,708 pharmacies, 404 associated fuel centers, 22 distribution centers, and 19 manufacturing facilities.Grocery chain closes 20 locationsThe supermarket chain, which closed 20 locations in 2025, revealed in early March that it would close its underperforming Escondido, Calif., Vons at 2345 E. Valley Parkway by May 1, 2026.After the E. Valley Parkway store closes, Vons will still operate three other stores in Escondido at 1000 W.

El Norte Parkway, 330 W.

El Norte Parkway, and 351 W. Felicita Ave.Company closed Safeway storesThe Vons closing comes about six months after Albertsons closed 10 locations of its Safeway affiliate in Colorado, one in Nebraska, and one in New Mexico in November 2025, according to CBS.Albertson’s also eliminated 380 jobs at its corporate offices in Arizona and California in 2025.Related: Major off-Las Vegas Strip casino defaults on loan, no bankruptcy