Lowes Foods
Owner: Alex Lee Inc.
Opened: 2021
Previous Tenants: Bi-Lo
Location: 3125 Bees Ferry Rd, West Ashley, Charleston, SC
Photographed: January 2022
Terrible picture, I know. But this Lowes Foods moved into a 47,000 square foot former Bi-Lo in the West Ashley section of Charleston, northwest of downtown, in 2021. Lowes Foods is a very interesting regional chain as they're owned by Alex Lee Inc., which represents roughly 150 grocery stores and gas stations in this region. About 120 of those are owned outright under the Lowes Foods, Just$ave, and KJ's Market banners, and about another 30 are independent stores supplied at least in part by an Alex Lee subsidiary, MDI (Merchants Distributors Inc). On top of those 150 stores, MDI supplies around 450 independent stores that are not affiliated with Alex Lee, including Galaxy Food Centers. Locals, did I get that right? It's worth reading up on the companies here. While we won't be touring a Lowes Foods (it's unfortunate, because this one looks quite beautiful), we will be touring Lowes' less-impressive cousin KJ's soon, along with an independent that MDI supplies. But tomorrow is another Publix right here on The Market Report!
MDI also (in the early years) supplied Food Town which later became Food Lion.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the addition!
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