Early last year Chain Store Guide profiled Belle Foods LLC, a 57-unit regional supermarket chain formed when industry veteran Bill White purchased Southern Family Markets. At the time, White was optimistic about offering ‘convenient, top-quality grocery items at an affordable price with personalized customer service.’ Almost exactly a year later, Belle Foods has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company cited weaker sales than it had expected, as well as issues with creditors.
Many of the company’s stores – which are located in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi – formerly encompassed the old Bruno’s chain. Belle is seeking to close 13 locations currently doing business as Food World and Piggly Wiggly.
According to Chain Store Guide’s 2013 Grocery Industry Market Share Report, Belle operates in 24 core-based statistical area (CBSA) markets. Most of its operating markets have shown a decrease in grocery market share year over year.
Belle Foods LLC
Top 10 CBSA Markets Ranked by Current Area Stores*
| CBSA Area | Trade Names |
Current Area Stores |
Current Market Share |
Previous Area Stores |
Previous Market Share |
| MOBILE, AL | Bruno’s; Food World |
8 |
13.00% |
8 |
13.10% |
| BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER, AL | Belle Foods; Food World |
4 |
1.80% |
4 |
1.80% |
| PENSACOLA-FERRY PASS-BRENT, FL | Food World |
4 |
5.10% |
4 |
5.20% |
| TUSCALOOSA, AL | Bruno’s; Food World |
4 |
11.50% |
4 |
11.70% |
| FLORENCE-MUSCLE SHOALS, AL | Food World |
3 |
11.40% |
3 |
12.70% |
| ALBANY, GA | Piggly Wiggly |
2 |
6.40% |
2 |
6.40% |
| ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA | Belle Foods; Piggly Wiggly |
2 |
5.40% |
2 |
5.70% |
| CRESTVIEW-FORT WALTON BEACH-DESTIN, FL | Food World |
2 |
4.80% |
2 |
4.80% |
| DECATUR, AL | Food World |
2 |
7.90% |
2 |
8.00% |
| GADSDEN, AL | Food World |
2 |
11.10% |
2 |
11.00% |
*Source: Chain Store Guide’s 2013 Grocery Industry Market Share Report. ‘Current’ data represents fiscal 2012
