Could Amazon Bankrupt Grocery Stores and Their Pharmacies?
Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods could lead to pharmacies closing their doors.
Various media reports note that 2 US supermarket chains, which both contain pharmacies, are getting ready to declare bankruptcy.
According to one report, Bi-Lo, the company behind Winn Dixie supermarkets, is preparing to file as soon as March. Tops Friendly markets may seek court protection from creditors this month. Bi-Lo is planning to shut approximately 200 stores. This is not the first time Bi-Lo has struggled with bankruptcy; they have dealt with this in 2005 and 2009.1 Currently, Bi-Lo carries $1 billion in debt.
Another report notes that as of June 2017, Winn-Dixie operates 495 grocery stores in Florida (which has the most locations at 358), Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi, and as of May 2017 Winn-Dixie employs more than 38,000 associates who serve customers in approximately 500 grocery stores, 150 liquor stores, and 280 in-store pharmacies.2 Tops, a Williamsville, NY-based grocery chain, operates 170 stores and has more than 14,000 employees in the Northeast.
A Bloomberg news report on the subject of these 2 grocery chains cite Amazon as the potential cause for these bankruptcies.
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