Chains to buy Lucky’s stores

Publix, Aldi officials say they will acquire leases after market announced Chapter 11 plan.

Supermarket chains Publix and Aldi have both confirmed they’re buying Lucky’s Market stores in Florida.

Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous confirmed Tuesday the company is under contract to buy five Lucky’s leases, including the South Orange Avenue store in Orlando and locations in Clermont and Ormond Beach. Publix would also acquire stores in Naples and Neptune Beach.

“We are working through the process with the landlords of the five locations,” Brous wrote in an email. “We are currently in the due diligence process. No additional details are available at this time as we work through the process with the landlords.”

Lucky’s said Monday it had reached an agreement with Aldi, a grocery chain known for its affordability, for five leased stores and one owned store.

“We can confirm Aldi is acquiring several Lucky’s Market locations in Florida,” Aldi U.S. vice president of national real estate Dan Gavin said in a written statement. “Among other innovative real estate strategies, site acquisitions are an important part of our growth efforts. We are pleased to continue to expand our presence across the country.”

But Aldi did not release a list of stores it was acquiring.

Lucky’s Market announced Monday it is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after news broke last week that it was closing most of its stores.

The agreements with Aldi and Publix are dependent on court approval and an overbidding process, Lucky’s said.

Lucky’s said it would continue to operate seven stores across the country, including in Melbourne. Bankruptcy court documents, however, indicate the seven stores also may be sold.

“The debtors are finalizing the terms of a sale of the operating stores, which will be subject to a bidding procedures motion and approval by the court as well,” the documents state. “The debtors, in their business judgement, believe that sale of the operating stores provides value to the debtors in excess of what would otherwise be realized in a liquidation.”

Lucky’s opened in Orlando in June 2016 at 11750 E. Colonial Drive. In addition to the stores Publix said it was buying, it also has locations in the Colonial Landing shopping center, Hunter’s Creek, on Regency Village Drive and in Winter Park.

Stores were also in the works in Lake Mary and the Wekiva Riverwalk center in Apopka.

Lucky’s had a ground lease for their completed building in Lake Mary, said Chuck Whittall, president of Unicorp National Developments, the Lake Mary center’s developer.

“We’ve dealt with this many times in our business,” Whittall said Monday afternoon. “For us, it’s just another leasing project.”

Lucky’s website states natural and organic food shouldn’t be priced out of people’s reach. Their stores let customers drink beer and wine while shopping and featured sushi, ramen, salad and olive bars.

Publix has a GreenWise Market brand that is focused on natural and organic products and offers prepared food such as gourmet sandwiches and burrito bowls. GreenWise Markets recently opened in Lakeland and Boca Raton.

Customers at GreenWise Market stores can also buy wine, beer or coffee to drink while they shop.

Lucky’s also opened a 120,000-squarefoot distribution center on Emperor Drive in Orlando last year, which the South Florida Sun Sentinel previously reported was expected to close.

Supermarket chain Kroger decided to divest its interest in Lucky’s after a portfolio review, according to a December earnings release. The Kroger Co. owns 55% of Lucky’s Market Parent Company, LLC, bankruptcy court documents filed Monday state.

Kroger and online grocery company Ocado are building a more than 336,000square-foot warehouse in Groveland that would allow customers to order Kroger groceries online and have them delivered to their homes.