Three independent US-based Piggly Wiggly store owners, with the support of C&S Wholesale Grocers, have signed a definitive agreement with Southeastern Grocers to acquire three BI-LO stores in South Carolina and three Harveys Supermarkets in Georgia.

The arrangement is in conjunction with the restructuring support agreement announced by Southeastern Grocers on 15 March.

The move comes after Southeastern Grocers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 27 March.

“Our Independent Owners are excited to grow their existing store count and expand the Piggly Wiggly brand in the Southeast.”

Piggly Wiggly stores in South Carolina and Southeast Georgia, which are independently owned and operated, are supported and supplied by C&S Wholesale Grocers.

C&S Wholesale Grocers southeast marketing and merchandising vice-president John Owens said: “Our Independent Owners are excited to grow their existing store count and expand the Piggly Wiggly brand in the Southeast.”

The Harveys supermarkets being purchased, include two locations in Lakeland and one in Homerville.

The Harveys supermarkets are purchased by Ashley and Missy Thompson, current owners of three Piggly Wiggly locations in Southeast Georgia.

John and Anna Gillis, who currently own three Piggly Wiggly stores in South Caroline, are purchasing two BI-LO stores one in Abbeville and one in Clover.

David and Haley Smith, who currently own one Piggly Wiggly store in the area, are buying BI-LO store in Charleston.

After completion of the transactions, which is expected to end by April 2018, the stores will be rebranded as Piggly Wiggly.

The addition of these six stores to the company’s portfolio will increase the Piggly Wiggly store count to 50 in South Carolina and Southeast Georgia.

Piggly Wiggly currently own 600 supermarkets that are independently owned and operated across the US.

C&S Wholesale Grocers is a wholesale grocery supply company delivering over 140,000 products to independent supermarkets, chain stores and institutions in 15 US states.