Whole Foods to buy six leases from Massachusetts family-owned grocery chain

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market said Friday it will acquire six leases from Johnnie's Foodmaster, a family-owned grocery chain based in Chelsea, Mass. The transaction is expected to close Nov. 30.



Johnnie's Foodmaster will close all six locations prior to the closing date, but Whole Foods said it has guaranteed interviews to all Johnnie's Foodmaster employees at the six acquired locations with the goal of hiring as many as possible.



The six leases include South Weymouth, Arlington, Charlestown, Brookline, Melrose, and Somerville, and average 31,000 sq. ft. in size. Whole Foods Market intends to remodel each location, with the goal of reopening all six stores before the end of its 2013 fiscal year.



“To have the opportunity to sell to a company like Whole Foods Market has made a tough decision much easier,” said John DeJesus, president of Johnnie's Foodmaster. “I know that my employees and our loyal customers are in the best hands, and that the communities will benefit greatly from the product selection and shopping experience that Whole Foods Market offers.”



The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.