Lowes Foods announces plans for Greenville store

Lowes Foods said Friday it will enter the Greenville market and plans to add three to five area stores as part of its growth strategy.

Lowes said the first store will open in the city of Greenville in the spring of 2016. The company wouldn't disclose the location and size of that store or the number the employees.

But Michael Moore, Lowes' chief marketing officer, told The Greenville News store sizes average 50,000 square feet and 110 to 120 employees.

The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hickory, North Carolina-based Alex Lee Inc., said its growth strategy includes accelerating investment in rebranding existing stores and building new stores.

Lowes has stores across South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

The company's move will add another grocer to the local market, which also will include a 60,000-square-foot upscale Harris Teeter grocery store in Augusta Road's historic Lewis Plaza — Greenville's oldest shopping center.

That will mark Harris Teeter's return to the Greenville market.

Lowes said its rebranding effort will include 2.5 million square feet of existing stores and building 1 million to 1.5 million square feet of new stores.

In addition to Greenville, Lowes said it has plans to enter an additional two to three new markets.

As part of its overall investment strategy, Lowes said it will leave the Gastonia, N.C., market and close two local stores on or before April 1.

Lowes also said it will sell the previously closed and vacant store in Cary, N.C.

"We are very excited about the future of Lowes Foods and these decisions are important as we continue to invest and build for future growth," said Tim Lowe, president of Lowes Foods. "We regret that this decision will impact our store teams, their families, and our valued guests in Gastonia. Where possible, Lowes Foods' team members will be offered positions at other Lowes Foods store locations, or otherwise assisted."

Founded in 1954, Lowes Foods employs nearly 9,000 people and operates 97 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Founded in 1931, Alex Lee is a family-owned and operated company that employs approximately 10,000 people. It serves as the parent company of Merchants Distributors, LLC, which provides wholesale distribution to supermarkets across the Southeastern United States.

In addition, Alex Lee is the parent company of Just Save food stores in North Carolina.