Kings Food Markets: Grocery chain Kings to close another location, this one in Morris County

Upscale grocery chain Kings Food Markets is closing its location in Chatham by Sept. 1 this year, according to its owners Albertsons Companies. "Closing a store is always a tough decision," said spokesperson Dana Ward. "Our focus remains on growing our business, which sometimes involves reinvesting resources into existing stores and exploring potential new locations." Kings' closure in Chatham was first reported by TAPinto Morristown , a local news site. Ward said the closure was not related to the proposed $25 billion merger between Albertsons - based in Boise, Idaho - and supermarket chain Kroger. None of the stores those two chains are divesting from are in New Jersey, according to a statement from Albertsons . The Federal Trade Commission and eight states are suing to stop the Albertsons and Kroger merger, arguing it could lead to higher grocery prices for consumers. Both companies have denied those allegations. Reuters reported that the two chains were selling a combined 579 locations to C&S Wholesale Grocers. Ward said that Kings employees at the Chatham location "interested in remaining with the company will have the opportunity to be reassigned to open positions at nearby stores." The Chatham mayor and members of the local borough council could not be immediately reached for comment by email Friday morning. Including Chatham, there are 16 Kings locations in New Jersey, and one each in Connecticut and New York. Trouble for Kings Kings Food Markets, previously based in Parsippany, declared bankruptcy in 2020 and accepted a bid to be purchased by venture capital firm TLI Bedrock. That year, the chain closed Kings Food Market in Maplewood, which had opened in 1942 . Vivek Sankaran, Albertsons' CEO, said in April the company was buffeted by higher food prices, "lowering government assistance for our customers, declining COVID-related income, and the increasing mix of our pharmacy and digital businesses, which carry lower margins." Stopping shopping at Stop & Shop Earlier this week, grocery chain Stop & Shop said it would close an unspecified number of "underperforming" stores across the Northeast. All told, Stop & Shop operates nearly 400 stores across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, including 57 in New Jersey. Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record. Email: munozd@northjersey.com ; Twitter: @danielmunoz100 and Facebook This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Grocery chain Kings to close another NJ location