BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Shaw's and Star Market are preparing to shutter four New England locations, citing what is best for "ongoing success and future growth." Last week, the grocery retailer announced it would close its Lynn store, with locations in Leominster, Plymouth, and Portsmouth, NH soon to follow.
Shaw's grocery roots date back to 1860, making it one of the oldest continuously operated supermarkets in the country. With stores in five New England states, the grocery chain currently employees 19,000 workers across 153 locations, but that number will decrease after this round of closings.
A statement from Shaw's is below:
Like all retailers, we’re constantly evaluating the performance of our portfolio of stores. Closing an underperforming store is always a tough decision, but we’re focused on growing our business by being the favorite local supermarket, and running great stores where people love to shop. That’s what will enable us to offer the products and services our customers value most in Massachusetts and everywhere else we operate. While the decision to close a store is always difficult—given the impact on employees and customers—it was made only after careful evaluation and was guided by what is best for the company’s ongoing success and future growth.