BALTIMORE, MD—Shoppers Food, a regional grocery chain, will shutter four of its Maryland locations by mid-October, the company’s parent, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), announced Thursday. The closures are part of an effort to optimize the chain’s regional footprint amid ongoing financial challenges.
The affected stores are located at 1200 Eastern Blvd., Essex; 7790 Riverdale Rd., New Carrollton; 1170 W. Smallwood Dr., Waldorf; and 551 Jermor Ln., Westminster. All are scheduled to close on or before Oct. 11, according to a UNFI statement.
“We know the impact our stores have for the people who work in, shop in, and live in our communities,” UNFI said. “Like any other retailer, we’re constantly working to optimize our footprint, which includes investing in stores as well as closing stores where necessary so we can operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
The company expressed gratitude to its employees and pledged support during the transition, though specific details on severance or job placement assistance were not disclosed. Shoppers Food remains committed to serving customers at its other Maryland and Virginia locations and through online grocery delivery services, the statement added.
The closures follow a pattern of retrenchment for Shoppers, which has seen multiple store closings in recent years. In April 2024, three stores in St. Mary’s County—California, Charlotte Hall, and Leonardtown—closed due to profitability issues, according to Southern Maryland News Net. Earlier closures, including one in Baltimore’s Perring Plaza in July 2023, have raised concerns among customers about diminishing grocery options in some communities.
Shoppers, founded in 1949 as Jumbo Food Stores, operates 22 supermarkets in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas. The chain, acquired by UNFI in 2018, has faced challenges from rising competition and economic pressures, including inflation and changing consumer habits, according to industry analysts.
UNFI did not specify plans for the soon-to-be-vacant properties or whether they would be sold to other grocers. The closures add to a broader trend of supermarket consolidations in Maryland, with chains like Giant Food and Safeway also closing select locations in recent years, according to The Baltimore Watchdog.
For more information on nearby Shoppers locations or delivery options, customers can visit https://www.shoppersfood.com.
