Quick Overview

  • Homeland Stores announced in a Facebook post on Thursday that it will close four stores in Oklahoma within the next 45 days.
  • The grocer also plans to consolidate stores in three Oklahoma markets and list an undisclosed number of stores for sale.
  • These moves come less than a year after Homeland reportedly closed multiple stores in Oklahoma, and just four months after its parent company appointed a new CEO.

Deep Dive

The store adjustments come a few months after Frank Archer became president and CEO of HAC, Inc., the parent company of the Homeland, United Supermarkets, and CashSaver brands. According to his LinkedIn profile, Archer joined HAC in December after serving as CEO of Midwest grocer Woods Supermarket for nearly a decade.

In the Facebook post, Homeland said it "tried its best to keep these stores open for as long as possible," but ultimately determined that the store adjustments would help build a stronger foundation for the company's future.

Homeland will close two of its namesake stores in Norman, one Homeland store in Edmond, and one CashSaver store in Lawton.

Meanwhile, the grocer plans to consolidate stores in three markets and hold reopening ceremonies on July 1. According to The Oklahoman, one United Supermarkets store each in Elk City and Clinton will merge with a Homeland store, while one of two United Supermarket stores in Woodward will close.

"You're going to see better freshness, better quality, better value, better prices, and a consistent experience every time you walk into a store," Archer told the news outlet, which noted the chain's service levels have been lacking over the past year.

Local ABC affiliate KOCO reported that Homeland also plans to sell 10 stores in Oklahoma, including four in Bartlesville, two in Sand Springs, and one each in Oklahoma City, Ponca City, Stillwater, and Cleveland.

"We will do everything possible to place affected employees into open positions within the company," Homeland said in the Facebook post.

HAC did not respond to a request for comment.

"This is a pivotal moment for our company," Archer said in a press release reported by KOCO. "We have recognized areas where we need to improve, and we are taking action. We believe these measures will allow us to invest more deeply in the stores and communities that will define our future."

According to local news reports, Homeland closed four stores in Oklahoma last summer. HAC said in a statement to KOCO at the time that a "comprehensive review of financial performance and long-term viability" prompted the company's decision to close those stores.