BI-LO is a supermarket chain based in Maudlin, South Carolina. They have over 200 markets in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia. Throughout its history, BI-LO has faced difficult times, but it still continues its founder’s vision and is proudly facing a bright future.
History
BI-LO was founded by Frank Wrenn, a former executive of Winn-Dixie, in 1961. Frank’s main focus was providing a store where people could buy name brand products at lower prices. First named “Wrenn and Outlaw”, Frank held a contest for his employees choosing a new name for the grocery chain. His secretary won with the name “BI-LO” which encompassed Frank’s vision.
BI-LO was bought out in 1977 to Ahold, a food conglomerate located in The Netherlands. Ahold also bought Red Food Stores and merged them with BI-LO in 1978. Ahold then went on to acquire Bruno’s Supermarkets and added that as well to its portfolio.
The “BI-LO” brand name was phased out in 2004-2005 and became “Southern Home” with all new packaging. Then, Ahold sold BI-LO and Bruno’s Supermarkets to Lone Star Funds whose specialty is purchasing distressed companies. They promptly sold over 100 BI-LO/Bruno markets and three of the distribution centers in order to focus on renovating its remaining stores and build new ones in markets that offered greater advantage.
In March 2007, Lone Star Funds separated the BI-LO from Bruno’s Supermarkets into its own distinct company. In April, Lone Star decided to put the entire 230-store BI-LO supermarket chain up for sale. The new BI-LO filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in 2009 stating it was necessary due largely in part to the credit crisis. It expected to continue on with business as usual and received a $10,000,000 loan from GE Capital in order to pay salaries, wages, venders and suppliers.
Shortly after an announcement from the Delhaize Group, based in Belgium, to purchase over $4,000,000 of assets from the supermarket chain, BI-LO filed restructuring plans. Lone Star Funds provided the much needed influx of money to keep the Delhaize Group from acquiring the chain.
In 2003, BI-LO redesigned their store image in a successful attempt to draw a more high-end clientele. The resulting Super BI-LO offered a larger choice in healthier, organic and specialty foods.
BI-LO re-emerged from Chapter 11 in early 2010, and was named one of the Top 75 Retailers in 2010 by Supermarket News. It still remains a part of Lone Star Funds but was reported being put up for sale in August of that year with Kroger and Publix showing interest in purchasing.
Stats
Headquarters: Mauldin, South Carolina
Number of Stores: 207
Annual Revenue: $2.2 million
Number of Employees: 15,000
Geography: Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee
Special Services: Floral shop, gift cards, DVD rentals, Western Union, Coinstar, lottery tickets, discount tickets, free samples
Banner
BI-LO
Super BI-LO
Brands
Southern Home, Clear Value, Walter’s, Signature Deli, Lip-Lickin’ Chicken, Chef’s Catch, Paws, TopCare, Full Circle, Domestix, Electrix, Easy Clix, Academix, World Classics
Important Links
Corporate Home Page
Online Shopping N/A
Circular and Specials
Jobs and Careers
Store Locations
Contact Information
Your Southern Home Brown Rice 1 pound. What state does the rice come from? South Carolina/Texas/California or NON USA? Thank you . Mike
Have you stopped stocking the Southern Home ice cream? The Strawberry Cheesecake was better than the higher price brands. Also the orange dish soap for $1.00 has disappeared too I love Bilo and shop there every week.
what are the “natural flavorings” in your Southern Home Butter
I live in Millen, GA, where there is just one grocery store – Bi Lo. I and the rest of the folks are at your mercy. The weekly sale paper lists everything that should be available in the Millen store, but it is not. I am disabled and have a care giver shop for me. I can’t go out of town to get groceries, so you might say I am screwed. Yeah, I guess so when the milk shelf is empty and you have to ask for milk. They bring out one container, but never bother to restock the shelf. The same thing applies to the bread as well as the Krispy Kreme products.The manager doesn’t seem to be overly concerned. Are you concerned? For many of us the Millen Bi Lo is our only option. I have heard rumors that since there was no other local competition, the Millen store could do what they liked. I’d like for that to be untrue.
Please stock Smoky Mountain sweetener in your stores. !!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!
i noticed while shopping in your store you had chek soda ,and hickory sweet bacon.i worked for winn Dixie for over 22 years.was there a merger with w/d to get those products?
I love bi-lo. I appreciate senior citizen savings on Wednesday. I wish they had less alcohol and wine. Takes up too much room.
i have written many times about the store on Mission Ridge Rd Chickamauga Ga it should be commended if we only lived in Signal Mtn or Hixson where the stores have been remodeled (they didn’t need to be in the first place). I have pictures you would not believe
they never have enough stock we get all the leftovers in product I would like to but a
Gallon of milk that would last longer than two days just poured a gallon down the drain yesterday AGAIN!!! They need to get new cow. The people at deli need to look up to see if they might have a customer I don’t buy from deli anymore. I don’t even know the last time I got a thank for my purchase (the only ones than seen to say thank you are the young boys). One week I purchased 163.00 worth of groceries I had to get my own receipt off the register and I looked at the young girl and I said thank you she replied SURE. I could go on and on I just tried to do a online sweepstakes they gave me today after purchasing 123.00 worth groceries and it won’t work suprise!!! Nothing has changes at this store in 30 years so you know they are not listening and don’t care. It’s not the store managers cause it’s always been that way. I shopped with mt parents when it was red food I am 60 years old and do a lot of cooking so I have spent a lot of my time and money there oh ya once I tried to can a can of cream of chicken soup took 3 trips before they ever had it on shelf. God forbid the restrooms. I know I should change but it’s so convenient to our house but it is time
I just love your southern home silver queen corn. It is as good as if you fixed it out of the garden. I’ve been buying it for several years and buy 10 packages at a time. I’ve shared it on fb and now have been told several have gone to the bi lo in Monroe and told this is a d/c item. I sure hope this is not true hoping they were just out. I’m just about out and will be going back to buy 10 more bags. Thanks for your help. Donna High
I took a receipt to the Kannapolis, N.C., store to get a refund on a birthday card that was left out of my groceries. The manager or supervisor, I am not sure which, questioined me like a criminal. I finally left without my receipt or money back. I am 63 years old and have numerous retailers be rude to me over the years, but this was bad enough for me to write in and complain. This lady needs a course in human relations, especially since she was management. I worked in a grocery store for years in my youth, and we never treated a customer like this. By the way, the store that I worked in was Food Lion. I shop both chains and Food Lion has been nothing but polite to me, they make me feel very valuable to them.
Sincerely,
Shelia